In a pointed remark, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taunted Russian President Vladimir Putin over the expansion of NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. During an event at the State Department for the unveiling of her official portrait, Clinton did not mince her words.
“Too bad, Vladimir. You brought it on yourself,” Clinton quipped, referring to the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the wake of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Clinton emphasized that NATO membership is not compulsory and that nations voluntarily choose to join the Western alliance, which is founded on the principle that member states will defend each other if attacked. Finland and Sweden, two European nations, sought to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite Ukraine’s previous unsuccessful attempts to secure NATO membership.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cited Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO as one of the reasons behind Russia’s invasion of the country. In response to Russia’s aggression, Western nations, including the United States, have provided substantial support to Ukraine, including billions of dollars in military aid.
Clinton’s relationship with Russia during her tenure as Secretary of State in the Barack Obama administration started with efforts to “reset” diplomatic relations. However, these efforts unraveled over time, especially as Putin’s leadership grew increasingly authoritarian. In 2012, Putin personally accused Clinton of encouraging protests by opposition leaders who contested the results of Russian parliamentary elections.
Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee for the US presidency in 2016 but lost to Donald Trump. Following the election, a US Senate panel concluded that Moscow had sought to interfere in the election to aid Trump’s victory.
As tensions persist between Russia and Western nations, Clinton’s comments reflect the ongoing challenges in US-Russia relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.
Sources By Agencies
