Thu Feb 16, 2017 AT 12:32 PM EST
While answering questions at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday, Defense Secretary James Mattis said of Russia, “There is very little doubt that they have either interfered or attempted to interfere in a number of elections in democracies,”reports The Hill. Mattis added that he does not feel compelled to respond to Russian officials who dislike his call for America to deal with Moscow from a position of strength.