The representatives of the United States and Russia can engage in a dialogue on issues of fight against terrorism in the coming months, an article by assistant to the US President for National Security Robert O'brien, published in the Washington Post on Sunday, reads.
"Another area of potential cooperation with Russia is the fight against terrorism. Both Russia and the United States have been attacked on their territory by <...> extremists. US representatives are likely to interact with their counterparts in Russia's intelligence and law enforcement agencies on these issues in the coming months," he said.
In December 2019, the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their talks at the State Department noted that the US authorities intend to deepen cooperation with Russia in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. According to him, the special services of the two countries "cooperate in these areas on a regular basis", while the parties will strive to "make this cooperation even better and better."
O'brien also noted that friendly relations between the United States and Russia would benefit both sides and the world.
In his opinion, "no President since [Ronald]] Reagan did not demonstrate such a resolute attitude towards Russia" as Donald Trump. "Like Reagan, President Trump is seeking a different way to develop relations with Russia - one in which Russia will refrain from aggression abroad and become a friendly partner for the United States and Europe. In such a world, sanctions against Russia would not be necessary, and trade between our countries would flourish. Both Russians, Americans, and the whole world would benefit from such relations," he said.
"Like Reagan, President Trump seeks to have good relations with all countries, including with Russia. But no country, including Russia, should doubt the President's commitment to protecting the United States and our allies, " O'brien said. He listed numerous sanctions that the US administration has recently imposed on Moscow. "These steps are unfortunately necessary, given Russia's actions that threaten the United States and its allies," an aide to the American President argued.
"President Trump knows that peace is maintained by force. For this reason, his administration has begun a historic restoration of the US armed forces, " O'brien also added.
Sanctions and charges against the Russian Federation
In connection with the reunification of Crimea with Russia, the United States and the EU began to impose sanctions in March 2014. The first wave of individual sanctions concerned primarily representatives of the leadership of the Crimea itself, as well as a limited number of Russians who, according to the West, were related to the events in Crimea. Then these sanctions were repeatedly expanded under the pretext of the need to influence Russia in connection with the events in the Donbass and were extended to the banking and industrial sectors of the Russian economy.
The Russian authorities have consistently and decisively rejected statements by Western politicians about Russia's alleged aggression against neighboring countries and interference in the electoral processes of other states.
Arms control
O'brien noted that the United States also hoped to conclude an arms control agreement with Russia and China.
"In June, the United States began negotiations with Russia on a new START-3 (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty- TASS). The US is cautiously optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Moscow and China on arms control norms that aim to limit all nuclear weapons in an objective manner," O'brien wrote.
The Russian-American START will expire at the beginning of next year if Moscow and Washington do not agree on its extension. The Treaty was signed by the two states in 2010. According to its terms, each of the parties reduces its Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms so that seven years after its entry into force and in the future, their total numbers do not exceed 700 deployed Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and heavy bombers (HB), 1,550 warheads on them, 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM, SLBM and HB launchers.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: AP Photo/Michael Sohn/ TASS