The Jerusalem Post

British defense minister insists West can’t treat Russia as partner

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LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s defense minister said on Sunday he is ready to work with his new US counterpar­t but that Western nations cannot not treat Russia as a partner as Moscow is a strategic competitor.

Several appointmen­ts by US President-elect Donald Trump have suggested his administra­tion could forge warmer relations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, worrying several European allies, especially in Eastern Europe.

“I’m ready to work with the new secretary of defense Jim Mattis... to be strong against Russian aggression toward NATO, to deescalate tensions with Moscow and as I said to continue to work with Russia on how we get toward a settlement in Syria,” Michael Fallon told the BBC.

“That can’t be treating Russia as an equal. Russia is a strategic competitor to us in the West and we have to understand that,” he said.

Trump is expected to name the chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp, as secretary of state, a source told Reuters on Saturday, an appointmen­t that would put in place an official with close ties to the Russian government.

Fallon also emphasized Britain’s support for Saudi Arabia after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told an audience that the Saudis, Iran and others were “puppeteeri­ng and playing proxy wars.”

A spokeswoma­n for Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier in the week that Johnson’s views did not reflect the government’s position on Saudi Arabia and its role in the region.

On Sunday, Fallon emphasized support for the kingdom, which since March 2015 has led a coalition carrying out air strikes in support of the Yemeni government of Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi against Houthi fighters, who are backed by troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

“It [Saudi Arabia] is perfectly entitled to defend itself and it is also leading the coalition to restore the legitimate government of Yemen,” Fallon said.

 ?? (Reuters) ?? MICHAEL FALLON
(Reuters) MICHAEL FALLON

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