Pompeo, Lavrov Talks Seek Better U.S.-Russia Relations, Discuss Challenges and Opportunities

Dec. 10, 2019 (EIRNS)—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met for several hours today at the State Department, in continuation of the dialogue begun last May when Pompeo met with Lavrov, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Sochi. In their joint press briefing after today’s talks, both spoke of their agreement that the United States and Russia “should have a better relationship,” as Pompeo put it. He spoke of a possible announcement soon of an initiative to improve economic relations between their countries.

Lavrov said they had “spoken frankly and businesslike,” but sought “not only to listen to each other, but to hear each other, because a situation where two nuclear superpowers have accumulated differences is not acceptable.” He added:

“We meet each other regularly and we regularly talk on the phone when necessary. Today’s meeting has confirmed that it is useful to talk to each other. However difficult this period in our relation is, and including the global affairs, talking to each other is always better than not talking to each other.”

A central topic on their agenda was the future of global arms control, which they discussed “at great length,” Pompeo reported. It was clear in the press conference that there are major differences still between them, but the discussions were serious.

Pompeo reported on President Donald Trump’s eagerness to pursue arms control with Russia and with China, and made clear the U.S. view that discussion of what comes after the New START Treaty expires, “must be broadened to include the Chinese Communist Party [sic],” and cannot address just missiles, warheads, bombers, etc., but “the full range of instruments of power” which pose a risk to strategic stability. Lavrov, for his part, reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s concern to secure some framework for nuclear arms policies while any such talks are underway, pressing on various initiatives which President Putin has made, such as that both nations “make a statement at the level of presidents about unacceptability of certain nuclear war.”

The question of China’s possible involvement in any such strategic negotiations was a substantive subject of discussion. Lavrov reported that they had discussed China’s stated opposition to participating in such a proposed multilateral agreement, since its nuclear force levels are far below those of either Russia or China. Both raised the possibility to bring in France, the U.K. and perhaps others, if any such talks proceeded.

Pompeo stated in the press conference that it is true that China has fewer weapons systems,

“but to enter into these conversations doesn’t necessarily mean that we would cap any one country at any particular level. The objective isn’t about that. It’s about developing a set of conditions which create the very stability for the security of both our people, the people of the United States, the people of Russia, people all around the world are demanding from a good strategic dialogue.”

To which Lavrov responded, that this “was the first time that we have clarification by an official representative of the U.S.” that its proposal to expanding the participants in future arms control (i.e. China) aims at “a set of conditions, not the final limits of any participant.” It is for such reasons, Lavrov added, that he was advising the U.S. that “it will be easier, possibly for us and for other people who the U.S. have in mind,” if the U.S. would put its proposal on paper, “formulated, worded in some way.”

Many other areas of concern were discussed at shorter length, including Lavrov briefing Pompeo on the Normandy Four discussions in Paris which had just occurred on Ukraine. Other topics ranged from those where Russia and the U.S. are cooperating, albeit with differences (including counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, North Korea, and Syria), and those where their differences make for “greater challenges” (Venezuela, Iran, visas, etc.). Lavrov summarized the results as follows:

“In the end, I’d like to say that with all difficulties and differences, there is great potential for our cooperation in economy and in other spheres as well, and it is in the interest of both countries to tap into that potential fully and to develop our relations to the benefit of our countries and the whole global community. That is our intent, and today we have felt that there is a reciprocity, the same commitment of the American side.”

The depth of diplomatic dialogue notwithstanding, there was no getting around the bogus, British intelligence-concocted charges of Russian meddling into the 2016 U.S. elections. Lavrov pressed repeatedly in the press conference for the Trump administration to give Russia permission to publish its “closed-channel correspondence” with the Obama Administration in response to the charges that it was meddling, which it began in October 2016. He insisted that publication of this correspondence, carried out through the “specially designated channel to review threats in cyber networks,” could clarify how Russia responded on this matter, and why it has not been accepted.

“We understand that our joint work was hindered and continues to be hindered by the wave of suspicions that has overcome Washington” on this meddling matter, Lavrov said, but “nevertheless, we hope that the turbulence that appeared out of thin air will die down, just like in 1950s’ McCarthyism came to naught, and there’ll be an opportunity to go back to a more constructive cooperation.”