Ted Galen Carpenter
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow this week for
his previously scheduled official visit with Russian officials. His
journey came at a time when the chill in bilateral relations is
especially acute following the U.S. missile strikes on Syria in
response to the Assad government’s alleged use of chemical
weapons. Kremlin leaders were extremely annoyed at
Washington’s action, and they hintedthat Tillerson’s expected meeting
with President Vladimir Putin might have to be canceled. Instead,
his talks would be confined to sessions with his counterpart,
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Russians relented at the 11th hour, but to describe the
Tillerson-Putin meeting as tense and contentious would be …read more
Source: Cato Institute