While speaking in Moscow, former Trump adviser promises Rex Tillerson will be 'great' for U.S.-Russia relations

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published 13 December 2016

As concerns crop up about ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson's ties to Russia, Carter Page, former foreign policy adviser to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, told an audience in Moscow on Monday that Tillerson would be great for U.S.-Russia relations. While speaking at the Russian government-owned Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, Page said he was certain Trump's secretary of state nominee and other members of Trump's team have "great enthusiasm" for improving the relationship.

"I'm really personally excited about Rex Tillerson," Page said, per the Huffington Post. "Being awarded the [Russian] Order of Friendship, his [oil drilling] ventures in the Kara Sea and Black Sea, I mean the list goes on and on."

Though Page left the Trump campaign in September, after it was reported that U.S. intelligence officials were looking into whether Page "had met with Russians aligned with the Kremlin" — Page said he had not — he indicated Monday he's stayed in touch. "Talking with a number of colleagues and thought leaders in recent days, I think there's a huge potential and a lot of specific ways we've been talking about, to help support both administrations," Page reportedly said, referring to Putin's Kremlin and Trump's White House. Trump on Tuesday formally named Tillerson to the U.S.'s top diplomatic post.