The United States And Russia: A Multifaceted Relationship

The United States And Russia: A Multifaceted Relationship

Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 18, 2012

President Obama and his Administration have engaged the Government of Russia to pursue objectives of common interest for the American and Russian people. At the end of their meeting at Los Cabos on June 18, the Presidents issued a Joint Statement highlighting the strength of U.S.-Russian cooperation in areas including economic engagement, nuclear security, regional conflicts, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and the breadth of issues encompassed by the Bilateral Presidential Commission.

The Bilateral Presidential Commission: Perhaps the clearest expression of the breadth of the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship can be found in the results of the 21 Working Groups of the Bilateral Presidential Commission. For more information on the Bilateral Presidential Commission’s accomplishments, please visit:

The 2012 Joint Report by Co-Chairs Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov

Cooperation in Afghanistan: The United States and Russia share a strong interest in a peaceful, stable, and sustainable Afghanistan, free of terrorism and illegal narcotics. The United States appreciates the significant contribution to international security that has resulted from the arrangements between the United States and Russia – bilaterally and through NATO – to support ground and air transit into and out of Afghanistan. The NATO-Russia Council Helicopter Maintenance Trust Fund to support Afghanistan’s fleet of Russian-built Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters is another example of our joint efforts to assist Afghanistan. The United States and Russia continue to deepen and expand cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism and counternarcotics. For more information, please visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Cooperation on Afghanistan

Economic Cooperation: The United States is working to expand bilateral investment and economic cooperation that can benefit both Russia and the United States. Over the past three years, the positive atmosphere in bilateral relations has led to expanded economic cooperation between our countries. In 2011, Russia successfully completed its WTO accession negotiations, a process the United States strongly supported. The President is now working with Congress to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to Russia so that American firms can receive the full benefit of Russia’s WTO accession. For more information, visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Economic Cooperation

Cooperation on Energy and Energy Efficiency: The United States and Russia have an extensive dialogue on energy and energy efficiency aimed at spurring innovation and stimulating the scientific development needed to address the global energy challenges of the 21st century. The U.S.-Russia Energy Working Group supports this dialogue and the deployment of clean-energy technologies and services. This cooperation is also implemented through a range of activities including public-private partnerships, city-to-city pairings, trade missions, and university links. For more information, visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russian Energy and Energy Efficiency Cooperation

Protocol of Intent on Smart City Development Cooperation

Protocol of Intent on Clean Energy Cooperation in the Russian Far East

Cooperation on People-to-People Contacts: The ties that bind the American and Russian peoples are growing and extend beyond government-to-government channels. Some signs of this are the success of the “American Seasons” cultural program in Russia, the upcoming “Russian Seasons” cultural program in the United States, which will be part of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Russian settlement in Fort Ross, California, and a recent agreement to expand academic and journalism exchanges. We also welcome progress in bringing into force the U.S.-Russia agreement on adoptions. For more information, visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Cooperation on People-to-People Contacts

Cooperation on Health: The United States and Russia continue to deepen cooperation to improve the health and well-being of both populations. A recently signed Protocol of Intent will expand cooperation in preventing and controlling infectious and non-communicable diseases, including joint work related to influenza, HIV, and tobacco control. We also welcome U.S.-Russia agreement to cooperate on the global fight against malaria. For more information, visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Cooperation on Health

Protocol of Intent between CDC and Rospotrebnadzor

Cooperation on the Environment: May 23 marked the 40th anniversary of U.S.-Russia cooperation on the environment and natural resources, including wildlife conservation and protected area management, wildfire prevention, and pollution monitoring. The United States is partnering with Russia under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, an initiative to reduce emissions of methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons, which are collectively responsible for more than 30% of current global warming and have adverse implications for health, agriculture, and the Arctic. The United States and Russia are collaborating to develop a wildlife disease diagnostics laboratory in the Russian Far East to support conservation efforts for endangered tigers and leopards. Our shared interests and partnerships are exemplified within the Polar Regions and will be deepened through a new Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Antarctica, as well as through climate change research and shared efforts in the Bering Strait region with Alaska Natives and the indigenous peoples of Chukotka. We also continue to make progress on fisheries conservation and management. For more information, visit:

Fact Sheet: U.S.-Russia Cooperation on the Environment

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