Putin had proposed a military alliance against the threat from Iran to Bush.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, revealed in an interview with the well-known American host Tucker Carlson that during a meeting with former U.S. President George Bush Sr., he had proposed the creation of a joint anti-missile defense system between the U.S., Russia, and Europe.
This proposal was made with the aim of countering security threats, including the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Putin said that he had gone to Bush Sr.’s residence by the ocean at his invitation and had a serious discussion with him and his team there.
During this meeting, he proposed that the three major world powers collaborate to design a joint ABM missile defense system.
According to the Russian President, at that time the official stance of Washington was that the U.S. defense system was designed to counter the threat from Iran. Putin added that he had asked American officials to advance this project jointly with Russia and Europe but was met with a skeptical reaction and was asked, ‘Are you really serious?’
Putin went on to say that he responded positively and emphasized that if such a strategic cooperation among the three powers were to take shape, the world would be transformed.
He also explained that Robert Gates, the former CIA director, and Condoleezza Rice, the then U.S. Secretary of State, were present at that meeting.
Nevertheless, after consideration, American officials rejected this proposal.
This conversation took place on February 14, 2024, and it was Putin’s first media interview with a Western journalist since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.
