Let’s call this a small victory for international relations.
During a news conference Friday with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Seoul, South Korea, President Barack Obama was asked if he would save Russian President Vladimir Putin from drowning.
Thankfully for Putin, Obama said he “absolutely” would.
“I’d like to think if anyone were out there drowning, I’d save them.” Obama told reporters. “I used to be a pretty good swimmer. I grew up in Hawaii.”
Obama, however, did not address whether he thought Putin, in turn, would save him.
During a question-and-answer session with the Russian people last week, a 6-year-old asked Putin if he thought Obama would save him if he were drowning. Though the two world leaders have a contentious relationship, Putin said he thought Obama would save him.
“I don’t want to be drowning, but in addition to intergovernmental relations, there are some personal relations,” the Russian president said. “I don’t think I have a close personal relationship with Obama. I think Obama is courageous and a good person who, for sure, he would save me.”
Despite the United States’ attempt to “reset” its relationship with Russia, Obama didn’t hesitate to criticize Putin for his “increasing tendency to view the world through a Cold War prism,” he said.
Obama noted that while there “are still areas where we should be cooperating,” such as counterterrorism operations, he said it is difficult to do so given recent events.
The two have sparred over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s support of the Assad regime in Syria.
“What’s clear is, you’re right, Mr. Putin is going to make decisions on what he thinks is best for Russia,” Obama said.
h/t The Hill
