Meanwhile, Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump seemed to back the idea of closer cooperation with Russian Federation in the battle against Islamic State and Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Nusra Front.
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Speaking in a briefing with reporters, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a wary assessment of the proposal that State Department leaders have been pursuing with Russian Federation.
Details on agreement with Russia in Syria could come in August Defense chief casts doubt on cooperation with Russia in Syria Five decades of Democratic convention memories MORE said Tuesday he hopes to announce in early August details of a plan for the United States and Russia to cooperate in Syria.
They also believe that Russia’s decision last month to strike a rebel outpost in southeast Syria that has been used by British and USA troops was an intentional provocation. “It’s the alignment of those interests that Secretary Kerry’s exploring”, Carter said.
North Korea has launched a series of missiles in recent months, the latest last week when it fired three ballistic missiles that it said was a simulated test of preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the USA military.
Staffan de Mistura said he wants to see the outcome of steps agreed upon in Moscow last week between the United States and Russian Federation, in order “to make these talks particularly fruitful and hopeful” before setting a precise date.
During the discussions, he and Lavrov outlined the next stage of implementing the plan, including a series of technical-level meetings to address concerns by the US military and intelligence community.
The government agreed earlier this month to organize a 1,000-strong North Atlantic Treaty Organisation battle group in Latvia whose mission is to dissuade neighbouring Russian Federation from flexing its muscles in the Baltic state.
The U.S. has offered Russian Federation a military partnership in Syria that includes intelligence and targeting sharing and even joint bombing operations.
Kerry’s meeting with Lavrov also comes amid questions about Russia’s involvement in a hack on the Democratic National Committee, resulting in tens of thousands of emails being leaked to WikiLeaks.
Lavrov brushed aside the accusations at the start of his meeting with Kerry, saying: “I don’t want to use four-letter words”.
At a Pentagon news conference Monday, Carter says the Russians are “a long way” from aligning their military focus with that of the United States.
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Although the hacking of the DNC was known to officials and cyber security experts a month ago, the timing of the release of the contents of communications within the party is the concern for USA authorities.
