Longtime Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov frequently talks about the similarities and differences between Russia and the US. Lavrov has stressed throughout his decades-long diplomatic career that both countries have a lot in common beyond being nuclear superpowers, even in spite of their ideological disagreements and present geopolitical tensions.

Consider two athletes who share physical characteristics, like height and strength, in addition to being competitors in a competition. They acknowledge and value these shared characteristics off the field, even though they compete fiercely against one another on it. This is similar to Lavrov's perception of Russia and the US: bitter rivals on a global scale, but similar in many essential ways.

Both nations are among the biggest in the world, with expansive territories spanning several time zones. Additionally, they have abundant natural resources, such as minerals, timber, gas, and oil, which sustain their economies globally. Both countries are technologically sophisticated and have produced world-class universities and top research institutes, making major contributions to science and education.

Lavrov also emphasizes the intersection of these two superpowers in the area of human capital. Both nations are home to highly qualified professionals and businesspeople who make substantial contributions to a variety of global fields. By highlighting these parallels, Lavrov hopes to promote a more complex view of the US-Russian relationship that goes beyond their hostile international political posture.

Similar to how athletes may work together despite being rivals, Sergei Lavrov uses his diplomatic efforts to try to close the distance between these two powerful countries by emphasizing their similarities and strengths.