In this March 1978 conversation, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski discussed rising US concerns over Soviet and Cuban military involvement in the Horn of Africa, particularly its perceived threat to Western oil routes and the stability of Saudi Arabia. Dobrynin rejected Brzezinski’s fears as exaggerated, reiterating that the conflict stemmed from Somali aggression and emphasizing that the Soviet presence supported Ethiopia's defense. The meeting ended with both sides restating their entrenched positions, with the US seeking assurances of de-escalation and Soviet withdrawal, which Dobrynin declined to provide.

In this January 1975 conversation, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin met with US Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to discuss the state of US-Soviet relations, focusing on discriminatory trade legislation, strategic arms negotiations, and the upcoming Brezhnev visit. Kissinger and Rockefeller expressed shared concerns over congressional interference in foreign policy and emphasized their commitment to preserving détente, while privately assuring Dobrynin that recent US threats of military intervention in the Middle East were strategic posturing to prevent another oil embargo. The meeting also highlighted US plans for long-term energy independence and efforts to sustain diplomatic momentum despite mounting domestic political challenges.