Not “against Russia,” but “for the American people”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 16, 2021
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, President Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Defense Priorities Policy Director Benjamin H. Friedman issued the following statement in response:

“The United States should express support for liberal values but not let Russia’s offenses against them prevent progress on other issues of greater concern. This pragmatic view appears to be President Biden’s. Although it is not clear what results today’s summit with President Putin will yield, the meeting is useful in itself. President Biden deserves credit for holding it and bucking those who think meeting with sometime adversaries rewards them, and for putting U.S. interests front and center.

“Whatever happens, it is good news both leaders characterized the meeting as pragmatic. Avoiding war is the prevailing mutual interest here. Taking a business-like approach to relations is a welcome contrast to the take-no-prisoners, ideological approach prevalent in Washington.

“As the presidents discussed, there is much the United States and Russia could do by cooperating—on arms control, Iran, policing cyber criminals, stabilizing Syria and Libya, on the Arctic, and influencing actors in Afghanistan to pursue peace and keep down terrorism. Cooperation in these areas would benefit Americans, so it would be foolish to let disagreement about Ukraine and the treatment of Russian dissidents dominate the agenda.”

Author

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director