Obama Set for Summit in Russia

U.S.-Russia relations have been marked by sharp disagreements and tense rhetoric in recent years. But when Barack Obama was elected President he spoke of a "reset" in relations with Moscow. Now he will put his nascent policy to the test.

Obama arrives in Moscow on Monday for a summit, the first of its kind in seven years, with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev. Key issues the two leaders will discuss include arms control, cuts to their nuclear weapons stockpiles, the situation in Iran, and the war in Afghanistan. A number of important international issues have tested the relations between America and Russia. Last summer's war in Georgia, the war in Iraq, American plans for a missile shield in Eastern Europe, the expansion of NATO, and human rights are just a few instances where Russian and American interests have clashed in recent years. Yet during the G20 in April, President Obama and his Russian counterpart sought a tone of cooperation. The two leaders released a statement declaring a "fresh start" in relations. Now they will strive to move continue to improve diplomatic relations. It is evident that both sides want the summit to be a success. Medvedev recently said: "I hope that this sincere desire to open a new chapter in Russian-American cooperation will be brought into fruition." Meanwhile, Michael McFaul, Obama's top assistant in Russia, said "It's not, in our view, a zero-sum game, that if it's two points for Russia it's negative two for us, but there are ways that we can cooperate to advance our interests and, at the same time, do things with the Russians that are good for them as well." The intentions may translate into cooperative policies as well. According to the Globe and Mail, a White House official has said that a deal may be announced Monday for a new nuclear arms reduction treaty, which could be implemented by year's end. The current arms control treaty between Russia and the U.S., START-1, expires in early December. Furthermore, Russian officials have said that the country will allow the U.S. to use its territory and airspace to help supply U.S. and NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan. Many believe the decision was intended to "sweeten" relations in advance of Obama's trip. Will the summit be a success? It is difficult to ascertain, in part because it is uncertain who controls Russia's interest. While an announcement on negotiating a successor to START-1 make be forthcoming, Putin has also said no such treaty will be enacted unless America reneges on its plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. But that isn't likely to happen. Obama recently said "I think Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new." Obama also declared that it is important "that Putin understands that the old Cold War approaches to U.S.-Russian relations is outdated, that it's time to move forward in a different direction." So while an air of renewed co-operation and warm relations may be on display in Russia over the next couple of days, like so many complex international relations, the devil will be in the details and what developments emerge in the weeks and months after the summit.