Defense Secretary Ash Carter called his Russian counterpart today, the first step in direct military talks proposed by Russia about Moscow's military buildup to support the Syrian government against the Islamic State group.
The 50-minute conversation marked the first time that American and Russian defense chiefs have spoken in more than a year amid US anger over Russian invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.
And it came as the US has been flummoxed over how to respond to Russia's increased support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and has been worried it will interfere with the ongoing US and coalition campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said Carter and Russia Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had a constructive talk about the need to "de-conflict" the Russian buildup with the anti-Islamic State effort.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov issued a statement noting that "the course of the conversation has shown that the sides' opinions on the majority of issues under consideration are close or coincide.
The ministers noted the restoration of contacts between the countries' defense ministries and agreed to continue consultations. "
Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in London that President Barack Obama believes military-to-military discussions with Russia are "an important next step" as the US and its allies seek to resolve a worsening Syria crisis while also trying to understand Russia's burgeoning role. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov first broached the idea earlier this week in a phone call with Kerry.
"This (Syria) crisis has got to be solved," Kerry said before meeting with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
Russia has called for a broad coalition to fight the Islamic State group and has indicated that helping Assad's military is the best way to do that. However, US policy has centered for the duration of the more than four-year civil war in Syria that Assad must step down to make way for a new government. Until recently, Russia seemed to agree with that policy. But in recent weeks, it has become clear that Moscow intends to create an air operations base in Syria and has sent personnel, equipment and tanks to the coastal province of Latakia.
