Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by telephone on Tuesday with Russia’s new protection minister, Andrei Belousov, the Pentagon stated, in a uncommon dialog between the Biden administration and Moscow.
This was the primary telephone name between the 2 males since Mr. Belousov, an economist, changed Sergei Ok. Shoigu, Russia’s long-running protection minister, in a Kremlin shake-up in Might.
Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated that Mr. Austin “emphasised the significance of sustaining traces of communication amid Russia’s ongoing conflict in opposition to Ukraine.”
Mr. Austin initiated Tuesday’s name and “believes that maintaining traces of communication open are essential,” Basic Ryder stated.
The dearth of communications between senior Russian navy and protection officers and their American counterparts has fed fears on the Pentagon of miscalculation dangers.