Blinken-Lavrov Summit to Discuss 'Totality' of US-Russia Relations: Washington
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to discuss the totality of US-Russia relations during next week's meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
According to the department, the upcoming meeting comes as part of a larger effort to reach their goal of a more stable, predictable path for bilateral relations.
"The point of this discussion is to discuss the totality of the relationship, to explore - if there is - the potential to cooperate when and where our interests do align," Price remarked told reporters via phone, Sputnik reported.
Blinken intends to explore possible areas of cooperation regarding topics such as Iran and North Korea, the State Department said. Issues surrounding the topic of climate change may be brought up as well.
The Blinken-Lavrov summit will also the first high-level, in-person meeting between US and Russian officials since US President Joe Biden took office.
Details of Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin's anticipated summit will also be discussed by officials next week.
"So both this meeting and a potential meeting with President Biden later on is all part and parcel to being a test ... (of whether) we can achieve a relationship with Moscow that is more stable and more predictable," Price said. That’s what will be the focus of the meeting next week in Iceland.
The US and Russian foreign ministers phoned each other earlier this week to discuss arrangements pertaining to their upcoming meetings on the sidelines of the Arctic Council ministerial in Iceland.
