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Obama visit resets US-Russian ties?: experts

By Wang Linyan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-08 22:57

US President Barack Obama's first visit to Russia has successfully reset US-Russian relations although disagreements remain, experts said.

"The summit has set up the right mood for rebuilding US-Russian relations," said Fu Mengzi, a senior researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R), his wife Svetlana (2nd R), U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a picture at the presidential residence Gorki outside Moscow July 6, 2009. [Agencies]

The agreements on cutting nuclear arsenals and cooperating on the war in Afghanistan are signs of concrete progress made at the summit, Fu said.

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"Though it is still far away from Obama's ideal of a nuclear-free world, the framework document on nuclear weapon reduction is conducive to US-Russian mutual trust, non-proliferation efforts, as well as world peace and stability," he said.

The framework stated that within seven years after a new treaty takes effect, the number of strategic nuclear arms delivery systems should be limited to between 500 to 1,100 units and warheads to between 1,500 to 1,675 units.

The new treaty will replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which is due to expire on December 5.

The two sides also inked an agreement that allows 4,500 flights a year carrying US troops and weapons to Afghanistan across the Russian territory without transit charges.

Obama hailed this move as a "substantial contribution" by Russia to an international effort against terrorism that will save the US time and money in transporting troops, according to the Associated Press.

While both sides harvest fruition on specific topics, they remain at odds over many issues including US plans for creating a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.

The US says missile defense is designed to protect US allies from a potential nuclear attack by Iran, but Russia says such a system would put its strategic interests at a disadvantage.

"Basically, it is an issue of strategic trust. The US will definitely continue to push forward its missile defense plan. Yet it takes time for both to overcome the differences," Fu said.

Tao Wenzhao, a senior expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the US' big concern at the summit is the Iran nuclear issue and that it wants to garner Russia's support in this regard.

"But Russia has interests in Iran. This remains to be one of the hard nuts to crack in US-Russia relations," Tao said.

Tao believed that one summit won't break the stalemate between the two Cold War rivals.

"The key of Obama's visit does not lie in the specific agreements, but in the symbolic message the visit conveys, that the US-Russia relationship has warmed up," Tao said. "It's the first time that leaders of the two countries have sat to talk as equals."

"It's foreseeable that bilateral relations will improve within Obama's tenure," he said.