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Trump secretary of state choice to say Russia must be held to account

11 January 2017 07:27 (UTC +04:00)

The Trump transition team circulated Tillerson's opening statement to be delivered during his Senate confirmation hearing.

According to the text, he will explain why Trump favors a closer relationship with Russia.

He will explain to some extent why Trump has been in favor of a warmer relationship with Moscow, saying Washington needs an open and frank dialogue with Russia on its ambition in order for the United States to chart its own course.

"While Russia seeks respect and relevance on the global stage, its recent activities have disregarded American interests," he will testify. "Russia must know that we will be accountable to our commitments and those of our allies and that Russia must be held to account for its actions."

But his rhetoric expressing concern about Russia goes beyond Trump's own frequent expressions of the need for better ties with Russia after what he feels was a bungling of the relationship by outgoing President Barack Obama.

"Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia," Tillerson will say. "But it was in the absence of American leadership that this door was left open and unintended signals were sent."

Rex Tillerson was the former chairman of Exxon Mobil.