US sees closer NATO-Russia ties on issues such as help in Afghanistan, missile defense

US expects closer ties between NATO and Russia

NEW YORK — The United States says a planned summit between NATO leaders and Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev will significantly boost cooperation in areas such as the Afghan war, missile defense and fighting drug trafficking and piracy.

U.S. NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder says Wednesday’s foreign ministers session with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov will lay the groundwork for the November summit of NATO’s 28 nations and Russia in Lisbon, Portugal. Medvedev was invited earlier this month.

Ties between the alliance and Russia hit rock-bottom after the Russo-Georgian war two years ago. But since President Barack Obama announced a “reset” of U.S. ties, there has been a significant shift toward closer cooperation.