“We will continue to develop missile defense to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven to work and cost-effective. We will do so in consultation with you, our NATO allies, and with Russia,” he said.

Relations between Moscow and NATO have become increasingly tense in recent years. Russia strongly opposes the alliance’s expansion eastwards as well as U.S. proposals for a defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Referring to last year’s conflict in the Caucasus, where Washington accused Russia of a disproportionate use of force in response to Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia, Biden said the US would “not agree with Russia on everything”. He said the new administration in Washington would not recognize Georgia’s two breakaway regions as independent states – a move already completed by Russia.

“But the United States and Russia can disagree and still work together where our interests coincide. And they coincide in many places,” Biden said.

“Our Russian colleagues long ago warned about the rising threat of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Today, NATO and Russia can, and should, cooperate to defeat this common enemy,” he said.

He went on to say that: “The United States rejects the notion that NATO's gain is Russia's loss, or that Russia's strength is NATO's weakness. The last few years have seen a dangerous drift in relations between Russia and the members of our alliance. It is time to press the reset button and to revisit the many areas where we can and should be working together with Russia”.

The 45th annual security conference in Munich had more big-name delegates than ever before, and they were looking at ways to reform European security. The question, however, was – with or without Russia.