In the aftermath of the Mueller report and former Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement Thursday he intends to run for president in 2020, several news outlets began reporting on Biden’s desire during his tenure in the Obama administration to develop closer ties to Russia.
The Washington Free Beacon published a piece Thursday morning reminding readers of Biden’s defense of Russia following then-candidate Mitt Romney’s concern over Russia’s apparent moves toward geopolitical domination in 2012.
In 2012, when Romney expressed concern that President Barack Obama was caught on a hot-mic promising more “flexibility” regarding Russia, Biden took it as an opportunity to herald that administration’s “Russia reset” — an approach championed by Hillary Clinton — and marginalize Romney as a doddering conservative still approaching the U.S./Russia relationship from a Cold War perspective.
“Governor Romney’s answer I thought was incredibly revealing,” Biden told CBS’ Face The Nation. “He acts like he thinks the Cold War is still on, Russia is still our major adversary. I don’t know where he has been.”
Biden then went on to insist Russia was working with the Obama administration n everything from Iran to Afghanistan, and insisted, a month later, that Russia was the reason for new relationships with nations such as China and Turkey.
“All of which are helping advance American security,” the vice president said.