“That is true before the Brexit vote and it is true today after the Brexit vote”, Carter said.
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US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is strongly criticizing Russian Federation for what he says is Moscow’s “clear ambition to erode the principled worldwide order” through coercion and aggression.
Carter even played up the dubious allegations of Russian Federation trying to “hack the election”, even though the comments come just a couple of days after intelligence officials were conceding that there was no real evidence to support these claims, insisting the United States would not tolerate Russia’s “attempts to interfere with our democratic processes”.
Carter said the US and United Kingdom would like to work more closely with Russia, and while “the door remains open”, the U.S.is taking a “strong and balanced approach.to deter Russian aggression against our allies”.
He added: “The United States respects the decision of the British people on Brexit and we are committed to continue and build upon our broad-ranging military, political and economic co-operation”.
U.S. Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and has called on Moscow to dig up tens of thousands of “missing” emails from Clinton’s time as head of the U.S. State Department.
Carter’s remarks follow hacking attacks on Democratic Party organisations in the run-up to the USA election on November 8, some of which US officials and cyber security experts have blamed on hackers working for the Russian government.
“It lashes out, alleging that it fears for its own viability and future”, even though it should know that no country, including the US, is trying to constrain its potential. But also make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the principle global order and the positive future it affords us.
“We will counter attempts to undermine our collective security and will not ignore attempts to interfere with our democratic (voting) processes”.
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Carter is due to meet Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during his trip to the UK. “And that’s in addition, of course, to the two brigades the United States already has stationed in Europe”, Carter said.
