Russia: A Potentially Beneficial Energy Deal with ExxonMobil

Russian state oil giant Rosneft and U.S. ExxonMobil are signing a wide-ranging strategic partnership and expertise swap deal April 16 at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's residence. ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is meeting with Putin, industry chief and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and Rosneft chief Eduard Khudainatov.

The series of deals appears to satisfy many of Rosneft's wishes and is a major step forward in the technology and partnerships needed for the future of Russian energy. But ExxonMobil is not like other Western firms that have worked or are working in Russia, and ExxonMobil has shown in the past that it will not tolerate the Kremlin's political maneuverings in energy deals.