Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tweaked Mitt Romney for his characterization of Russia as the "No. 1 geopolitical foe" of the United States, saying the comments did not reflect the current relationship between the two countries, Gabriella Schwartz reports on CNN's Political Ticker.
"It is very reminiscent of Hollywood and also of a certain phase in Russian-U.S. relations," Medvedev said at the end of the nuclear security summit in South Korea Tuesday.
Medvedev was responding to the Republican candidates comment on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer who criticized President Obama over a private conversation caught by microphone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in which the president said he could be more flexible on the missile defense system in Europe after the election.
"Who is it that always stands up with the world's worst actors? It's always Russia, typically with China alongside. In terms of a geopolitical foe, a nation that's on the Security Council, and as of course a massive nuclear power, Russia is the geopolitical foe. The idea that our president is planning on doing something with them that he's not willing to tell the American people before the election is something I find very, very alarming," Romney said, as reported by CNN.
Here is Medvedev's full response: "As to ideological clichés, I have already spoken on the subject. I always get very cautious when I see a country resort to phrasings such as "number one enemy." It is very reminiscent of Hollywood and certain period of history. I would advise two things to all US presidential candidates, including the person you just mentioned. My first advice is to listen to reason when they formulate their positions. Reason never harmed a presidential candidate. My other advice is to check their clocks from time to time: it is 2012, not the mid-1970s. No matter what party a candidate represents, he has to take the current state of affairs into account. That is the only he could count on winning."
