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Desert Lightning News January 8, 2016 13

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Russia naming U.S. as threat does not change

Chairman’s perspective

Jim Garamone DoD News Russia’s behavior in Ukraine, Crimea and Georgia requires the United
States to take Russian capabilities seriously, the chairman said.
Defense Media Activity
In some areas, Dunford said, he is comfortable with the U.S. military
STUTTGART, Germany — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presence in Europe. In other areas, “the [Eucom] commander has asked for
told reporters traveling with him here that a new Russian national security additional rotational forces and, frankly, long before this announcement
strategy document naming the United States as a threat does not change was made, has taken a broad look to see how to best advance our interests
his perception of the threat posed by Russia. in Europe in the context of security challenges in Europe, which is clearly
Russia,” he said.
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. said the U.S. military “has al-
ways been focused on Russian capability development.” The chairman Since taking office, the chairman has already spoken twice with his
spoke following meetings with the commanders of U.S. European Com- counterpart in Moscow, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General
mand and U.S. Africa Command. Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. “I’ve spoken with him a couple of times
and plan to do that routinely,” Dunford said. “We talk about a wide range
Russia is a challenge to the United States and its allies, Dunford said, of issues.”
“Based on their behavior, based on their capabilities -- nuclear, cyber, con-
ventional -- based on the threat to our allies.” Dunford would like to have a face-to-face meeting with Gerasimov in
the context of military-to-military relations. “No matter what the relation-
The Russian strategy document, “About the Strategy of National Secu- ships are between states, it’s important to keep the lines of communication
rity of Russian Federation,” was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New open,” he said. “We did that during the Cold War -- we had a hotline that
Year’s Eve and names the United States and the expansion of the NATO we could use in times of crisis.
alliance as threats to the country. The previous document -- signed in 2009
-- does not mention the United States or NATO. “My experience tells me that when you are in a period of difficulty, hav-
ing a military-to-military, professional relationship … can, one, help you
Dunford said he believes Russia is viewing strategy from a perspective better understand what you are dealing with, and, two, mitigate the risk of
of what nation poses a threat to them. Still, he said, he has only read open- miscalculation,” the chairman said.
source reporting about the Russian document and wants a chance to read
it before discussing its meaning.

A Broad Look

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