Putin slams US foreign policy for ‘imperialist tendencies’
In an interview with the Swiss media yesterday, Vladimir Putin accused the United States of pursuing imperialist policies, citing the support of certain experts inside the US. "These American specialists in foreign and domestic policy," Putin explained, "they think such imperialistic tendencies are harming the US itself."
Putin went on to accuse Washington of starting a new arms race, which he says began in 2001, when President Bush withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. "That treaty had been the cornerstone of the whole system of international security," according to the Russian President.
Putin also criticized Europe for being too dependent on the US when it comes to determining its own foreign policy, expressing annoyance that any discussion of Europe's "internal affairs" requires an American role. Washington, Putin says, has no right "to go around the world capturing whomever it likes and locking them away," referring apparently to the American practice of extraordinary rendition.
The interview took place on July 25 in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, where a draw was taking place for the 2018 World Cup soccer championship. When asked about his support for disgraced FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, Putin said he thinks such people deserve a Nobel prize. He added that he doesn't believe Blatter was personally involved in corruption.
The United States, as far as I'm aware, wanted to hold the 2022 World Cup, and their closest ally in Europe, Great Britain, desired the 2018 championship. It makes me wonder whether this crackdown on corruption might be a continuation of the battle for 2018 and 2022.