US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Russia to collaborate with NATO on the missile defense of Europe and in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
“While Russia faces challenges to its security, NATO is not among them,” Clinton said in Washington on Monday. “We want a cooperative NATO-Russia relationship that produces concrete results and draws NATO and Russia closer.”
Her comments came ahead of NATO meeting yesterday to discuss updating the “strategic concept” of the alliance among the US, Europe and Canada.
“Just as Russia is an important partner in efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, so should it be in missile defense,” she said in remarks at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, a Washington policy group.
Clinton urged Russia to be part of the discussion of missile defense for Europe during a stop last month in Paris.
“Missile defense, we believe, will make this continent a safer place,” Clinton said. “That safety could extend to Russia, if Russia decides to cooperate with us.”
Asked by an audience member on Monday if she could imagine Russia someday becoming part of NATO, she replied, “I can imagine it but I’m not sure the Russians can imagine it.”
In her prepared remarks, Clinton called terrorist attacks and nuclear proliferation the “key challenges” to NATO, which she called the “most successful alliance in history.”
“The danger of a nuclear attack from a non-state actor has increased,” she said.
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