US ready to begin military talks with Russia

Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is prepared for direct military-to-military talks with Russia over Syria, where the two countries may begin operating in the same airspace against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“The president believes that a military-to-military conversation is an important next step,” Kerry said, according to The New York Times, “and I think, hopefully, it will take place very shortly.”

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has spoken with his counterpart, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, about Syria, the Pentagon also announced Friday.

{mosads}”The secretary and the minister talked about areas where the United States and Russia’s perspectives overlap and areas of divergence,” a readout of the call said.

“They agreed to further discuss mechanisms for deconfliction in Syria and the counter-[ISIS] campaign. The Secretary emphasized the importance of pursuing such consultations in parallel with diplomatic talks that would ensure a political transition in Syria.

“He noted that defeating ISIL and ensuring a political transition are objectives that need to be pursued at the same time,” the statement added, using an alternate name for ISIS. “Both the secretary and the minister agreed to continue their dialogue.”

The decision to restart military talks comes as Russia has been sending troops, tanks, armored personnel carriers and mobile artillery to an airfield in western Syria. Defense officials characterize it as an effort to establish a forward air operating base to bolster the Assad regime.

U.S. officials — including President Obama last Friday — have warned Moscow that support for Assad is counterproductive and would prolong Syria’s civil war. Russia has ignored those warnings, continuing to send more cargo to the airfield.

On Thursday, CNN reported that Russia also sent attack and transport helicopters, a clear indication that Moscow could soon start air operations in Syria. U.S. forces are also in Syrian airspace, pushing the two countries to discuss their operations.

The moves to restart the military-to-military talks take place a day after Kerry met Carter at the Pentagon for about an hour, amid suggestions that the Defense chief — who had not called his Russian counterpart since taking the position in February — was being sidelined by the administration on Russia policy.

Defense officials argued that Kerry was in the lead on discussions with Russia for the administration, and suggested that Carter’s lack of communication was related to the suspended U.S.-Russia military relationship.