The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026), held from June 3-6, welcomed an official US delegation for the first time in a decade, highlighting a notable shift in the United States' approach to cooperation with Russia. Anton Kobyakov, a Russian presidential adviser and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF organizing committee, emphasized this change during a briefing, noting that previous US administrations, particularly under former President Joe Biden, had discouraged participation in the forum. Kobyakov mentioned that the head of the US delegation, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., delivered greetings from former President Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reciprocated the gesture. The forum's theme this year, 'Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future,' aims to address new models of global development amidst ongoing economic transformations. The event features various forums, including the SME Forum and the Creative Industries Forum, and highlights Saudi Arabia as the guest country. VEB.RF serves as the title partner, with the Roscongress Foundation organizing the event, which also includes cultural activities like the Petersburg Seasons festival and SPIEF Sports Games.