US-Russia relations •

Snowden effect: Obama cancels meeting with Putin, Russia disappointed

August 8, 2013 By Janet Vasquez Leave a Comment

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Washington: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday canceled a Russian summit with President Vladimir Putin scheduled for next month in retaliation for Moscow’s decision to grant asylum to intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.

The move is seen as a great setback in US-Russia relations especially at a time when both the countries are struggling hard to mend their ties.

In a statement released by the White House, spokesman Jay Carney said, “Following a review in July, we have reached at a conclusion that there is not enough progress in our bilateral policies with Russia. So, a US-Russia summit in early September is uncalled for.”

Meanwhile, the Russian government expressed disappointment over the US decision. Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said, “It is very clear that the decision is taken due to the Snowden issue which we did not create.”
He further stressed that Russia’s invitation for Obama to visit Moscow still stood.

US-Russia relations

The tense time looming on the US-Russia relations is not new but has prevailed even before the Edward Snowden affair. Here’s a brief account of ups and downs witnessed in US-Russia ties.

• In April 2010, President Barack Obama and then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the landmark disarmament treaty. The United States and Russia sealed a deal on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in March 2010, agreeing to cut their deployed nuclear arsenals by 30% while reducing the number of missiles, bombers and submarines on atomic patrol.

• In July 2010, US and Russia agreed to exchange 10 Russian spies who were arrested in the US on June 27 for four prisoners being held in Russia. This was one of the biggest prisoner swaps between both the countries since the Cold War.

• In February 2012, Hillary Clinton charged Russia and China with having “blood” on their hands for blocking a UN resolution seeking to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

• This year in March, Russia had extended support to US-led effort at the UN to impose fresh financial penalties on North Korea following its third nuclear weapons test.

• In August 2013, President Obama canceled plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow decided to grant asylum to the fugitive NSA leaker, Edward Snowden.

Despite Snowden row, US to go ahead with high-level Russia talks

August 7, 2013 By Janet Vasquez Leave a Comment

Washington: Despite Russia’s decision to grant asylum to former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, the United States has decided to hold talks with Moscow’s defense and foreign ministers in Washington on Friday.

The State Department said that the talks would go ahead and the Snowden’s case would be among the key issues raised when Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet their Russian counterparts.

“We have raised the Snowden issue with Russian officials many times in recent weeks. We expect to do so again,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

United States appears to be trying hard to avoid derailing ties with its Cold War rival by proceeding with some high-level talks with it while still leaving Obama’s participation in the summit in doubt.

The experts believe that the two sides would not worsen relations below a certain level as US needs Russia more than Russia needs US. The experts have made the observation in the light of issues such as nuclear non-proliferation in Iran, the Syrian crisis settlement and others.

Snowden had spent more than five weeks in a Moscow airport while trying to find a country for asylum. US wanted Russia to return him so that he could face charges for leaking National Security Agency surveillance secrets to the media. But Moscow’s rejection has prompted President Barack Obama to rethink whether to hold a summit in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month.

Obama speaks his mind over embassies’ closure, US-Russia relations

August 7, 2013 By Janet Vasquez Leave a Comment

BURBANK, Calif: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said that his government is not overreacting in shutting down nearly 20 embassies and issuing a worldwide travel warning following threats from the terror outfits.

The US President was reacting to late-night comic Jay Leno on his chat show ‘Tonight Show’. This was his 6th appearance on NBC’s late night show and his fourth as President.

President Obama speaking his mind to Jay Leno at “Tonight Show”

Elaborating more on the travel advisory, Obama said, “Americans need to check the State Department website for regular updates. Moreover, they are advised to proceed with their vacations in a ‘prudent way’.

“Dying in a terrorist attack is more unfortunate than dying in a car accident,” he stressed.

The comical chat show covered burning national and international issues ranging from the troubled relationship with Russia over Edward Snowden, country’s anti-gay laws, and the NSA’s surveillance activities. Moreover, Obama’s relationships with former rivals John McCain and Hillary Clinton were also the key areas of the conversation.

When Leno asked the President about his plans to attend G-20 summit in Russia, Obama flatly said, “I would attend the G-20 summit of the world’s wealthiest countries and developing nations in St. Petersburg next month.”

His attendance at the international platform becomes a matter of intense debate after Russia granted temporary asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who disclosed the surveillance programs of the National Security Agency. The issue has stirred global controversy and may affect the US-Russia relations.

While talking about demands over moving winter Olympics out of Russia, the President said that he did not think a controversy over Russia’s anti-gay rights policies would disrupt 2014 Olympics in that country.

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