DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S.-Russia ‘Reset’ Holds Challenge, Opportunity Says Official
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 5, 2012: The strategic “reset” of relations between the United States and Russia is gradually bringing results, a senior defense policy expert said today.
Celeste A. Wallander, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia policy, discussed challenges and opportunities in U.S.-Russia relations with members of the Women's Foreign Policy Group here today.
The reset strategy is “to cooperate in areas where we can cooperate with Russia, in areas that serve American national interest … and communicate clearly and honestly” on topics where the two governments don’t agree, she said.
The United States and Russia have made some important progress, Wallander noted, including:
-- Implementing the “New START” nuclear arms reduction treaty;
-- Making progress toward agreement on Iran;
-- Achieving some cooperation in the NATO-led Afghanistan mission; and
-- Strengthening defense and security communication both between the two nations and between Russia and NATO.
“The New START treaty was an important achievement. … It is another step in reducing global nuclear weapons stockpiles,” she said. The treaty also re-established regular mutual nuclear weapons inspections and meetings involving American and Russian military leaders and nuclear experts, she added.
On Iran, Russia has ended a contract that would have provided that country with Russian-made “very dangerous air defense systems,” Wallander said, and Russia supports the Afghanistan effort by allowing U.S. and NATO troops and cargo to travel through its territory.
