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US Defense Chief Accuses Russia Of ‘Eroding International Order’

Here he is seen on his arrival in London.

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He told students Russian Federation had engaged in “unprofessional behavior” in Ukraine, Syria, and cyberspace, and said Moscow was also guilty of nuclear “saber rattling”. “The choice is Russia’s to make and the consequences will be its responsibility”.

“Let me be clear”.

“The United States does not seek a cold war, let alone a hot war with Russian Federation”, he said.

“Russia appears driven by misguided ambition and misplaced fear”, Carter said in a speech to students at Oxford University. But also make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the principle global order and the positive future it affords us.

Mr Carter told reporters at a press conference in Lancaster House: “President (Barack) Obama and I and many other Americans know we can continue to count on a strong United Kingdom to be a staunch ally”. “Unfortunately, now we do”. But it is also noteworthy because Carter was venturing, even if obliquely, without referencing a particular candidate, where most defense secretaries have not: election-year politics.

“That will allow us to rotate an armored brigade combat team into Europe on a persistent basis, and to pre-position a brigade’s worth of equipment and war-fighting gear to be used by Amerian troops flown into Europe”.

Pressed by reporters, Carter said his concerns were not about “the United States only” but did not offer specifics, nor did he indicate whether he was referring to the hacking attacks, but he said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance has long anxious about Russian meddling in other nations’ domestic affairs.

“Meanwhile NATO.has been writing a new playbook for itself”.

“The Defense Department, leveraging our own recent experience trying to rid our force of the scourge of sexual assault, is offering to help enable the U.N.’s National Investigative Officers and improve training to prevent sexual exploitation and other conduct and discipline issues”, Carter said during the conference. It also is working to become more agile and quick in responding to threats.

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Some NATO members, particularly the Baltic states that border Russian Federation, have voiced concern about Moscow’s aggressive moves in the Ukraine as a sign of Russia’s larger territorial ambitions. “We’re helping them strengthen their capabilities for national defense, to improve their ability to work with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, to reform their defense institutions, all important in the face of Russian coercion and aggression”.

US Enhances Defense Posture to Deter Russian Actions, But Not Seeking War