ABU DHABI: Former President George W. Bush said on Thursday that “there’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled” in the 2016 American presidential election, forcefully rebutting fellow Republican Donald Trump’s denials of Moscow trying to affect the vote.

While never mentioning President Trump by name, Bush appeared to be pushing back on Trump’s attempts to have warmer relations with Russia, as well as his comments on immigration. The White House did not immediately comment on Bush’s remarks.

“There’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled,” Bush said at a talk in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. “Whether they affected the outcome is another question.” Bush also said that “it’s problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election system. Our democracy is only as good as people trust the results.”

US intelligence agencies have concluded Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump win. Numerous investigations are under way to determine whether Trump’s campaign aided the Kremlin in its efforts. Trump has repeatedly denied any “collusion” with Russia.

Speaking of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush called him “zero-sum.” “He’s got a chip on his shoulder,” Bush said of Putin. “The reason he does is because of the demise of the Soviet Union troubles him. Therefore, much of his moves (are) to regain Soviet hegemony.” Bush also stressed the need to back Nato and other alliances the US has with the world.

Putin “is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses,” the former president said. “That’s why Nato is very important.” Bush also criticised Trump’s decision to scrap a programme implemented by former President Barack Obama’s administration that allows young immigrants living in the US illegally who were brought here as children to remain in America.

“America’s their home,” the 43rd American president said. “They’ve got to get it fixed.” Bush acknowledged that he tried to overhaul America’s “broken” immigration system, but failed.

“There are people willing to do jobs that Americans won’t do,” he said. “Americans don’t want to pick cotton at 105 degrees (Fahrenheit), but there are people who want put food on their family’s tables and are willing to do that. We ought to say thank you and welcome them.”

Bush in 2008 became the first sitting US president to visit the UAE. He spoke on Thursday at a summit in Abu Dhabi put on by the Milken Institute, an economic think tank based in California.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2018