After winning re-election, I can do more, says Obama

EXpressing remarkable confidence, US president Barack Obama was caught yesterday assuring outgoing Russian president Dmitry Medvedev he will have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious issues such as missile defence after he wins the US presidential election.

In Seoul for multi-nation talks, Mr Obama urged Moscow to give him “space” until after the November ballot. Mr Medvedev said he would relay the message to his successor, Vladimir Putin.

The unusually frank exchange came as Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev huddled together on the eve of a global nuclear security summit in the South Korean capital, unaware their words were being picked up by microphones as reporters were led into the room.

US plans for an anti-missile shield have bedevilled relations between Washington and Moscow despite Mr Obama’s “reset” in ties between the former Cold War foes. Mr Obama’s Republican opponents have accused him of being too open to concessions to Russia on the issue.

Leaning toward Mr Medvedev, Mr Obama was overheard asking for time – “particularly with missile defence” – until he is in a better position politically to resolve such issues.

“I understand your message about space,” replied Mr Medvedev, who will hand the presidency to Mr Putin in May.

“This is my last election … After my election I have more flexibility,” Mr Obama said, expressing confidence he will win a second term.

“I will transmit this information to Vladimir,” said Mr Medvedev.

The exchange, parts of it inaudible, was monitored by a White House pool of TV journalists as well as Russian reporters listening live from their press centre.

Russia strongly opposes the US-engineered bulwark being built in and around Europe against ballistic missiles.

The White House, initially caught off guard by questions about the leaders’ exchange, later released a statement recommitting to implementing missile defence “which we’ve repeatedly said is not aimed at Russia” but also acknowledging election-year obstacles on the issue.

Mitt Romney, the leading Republican contender in the race to face Mr Obama this autumn, said in a statement the president’s unguarded remarks “signalled that he’s going to cave to Russia on missile defence, but the American people have a right to know where else he plans to be `flexible’ in a second term”.

Earlier, Mr Obama told students at South Korea’s Hankuk University he would pursue nuclear arms cuts with Russia and urged China to follow suit.

Acknowledging that the US has more warheads than necessary, he held out the prospect of reductions in the US arsenal as he sought to rally world leaders to take concrete steps against the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Mr Obama also used his speech to call on North Korea to curb its nuclear ambitions or face further international isolation. It plans a long-range rocket launch next month.

“There will be no more rewards for provocations. Those days are over,” he said, directing his comments at North Korea’s leadership.

Chinese president Hu Jintao indicated to Mr Obama during a one-on-one meeting yesterday that he took the North Korean nuclear standoff very seriously and was registering his concern with Pyongyang, a senior White House aide said. China is the secretive North’s only major ally.