New York Times:
Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on Germany and other NATO allies to stand together in the face of Russian aggression and other security threats in the region, but insisted no one is looking for another Cold War or new hot conflict with Moscow.
Speaking not far from Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, Carter pointed to the progress that Europe has made since the end of the Cold War, and said Russia must not be allowed to turn back the clock.
“We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia,” Carter said in prepared remarks at Atlantik Brucke, a Berlin think tank that focuses on the German-U.S. relationship. “We do not seek to make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us. We will stand up to Russia’s actions and their attempts to re-establish a Soviet-era sphere of influence.”
Carter’s stop in Berlin is the first of several in Europe, where a key theme is how the United States, NATO and other partners can best deal with the Kremlin in the wake of Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and its military backing of separatists battling Ukraine’s government on the eastern border.
But part of the calculous, Carter said, will be a new playbook for NATO that deals with Russia’s aggression while also recognizing its important role in the nuclear talks with Iran and the fight against Islamic State militants.
He said that as Russia modernizes its military, it also is trying to undermine NATO and threatening to erode economic and security stability with its recent nuclear saber-rattling.
His stop in Germany underscores the ongoing efforts of the two nations to work together, despite differences. And he said the U.S. and Germany must find new ways to enhance military ties, training and exercises.
Carter lauded German leaders for playing a leading role in the effort to defuse the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and sending military support and observers to the mission in Ukraine.
He also continued to urge Germany and others to adhere to promises made at the NATO summit in Wales last year and increase defense spending. He warned that there is an undeniable tendency to turn inward and everyone must guard against that temptation.
As part of that effort Carter said that he and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen will visit NATO’s new very high readiness joint task force, which has been put together to better prepare European and NATO allies to respond to threats more quickly.
His stop in Berlin will be followed by a visit to Estonia, in Russia’s backyard, and Brussels, where he will attend a meeting of defense ministers.
His overall message is that the U.S. and NATO need to have a “strong but balanced” approach to Russia.
