Joint Russian-U.S. counterterrorism exercise involving special forces of the two states will be held in May 2012, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Friday, December 16.

"The U.S. was chosen as the host of the bilateral exercise to be held in late May 2012," Col. Alexander Kucherenko said.

Russia's airborne forces and U.S. Special Forces will take part in the exercise. The program involves firing, mountain warfare, military engineering, tactics and parachute training, RIA Novosti reported.