WASHINGTON \u2014\u00a0The US and Russia have yet to finalize an agreement on coordinated efforts in Syria, with Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook warning Monday that the clock is running on the window for those conversations.
However, those conversations have become entangled with increased fighting in Aleppo, as well as an incident last week where US fighters were scrambled to intercept Syrian jets that were bombing near US forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The United States remains engaged with Russia on all of these issues, but as our colleagues at the State Department have made clear, we will to commit indefinitely to discussions that do not lead to results,” Cook said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later asked if there was a set time when the Pentagon would seek to cut off discussions with Russia, Cook demurred, saying “we\u2019re not going to put a calendar deadline on it\u2026 at some point, fi we don\u2019t see progress, there\u2019s not going to be a resolution here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spokesman also declined to discuss what a Plan B might be if the talks break down between the US and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Speaking to reporters July 25, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said the conversations with Russia are based on necessity, rather than trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They’re not based on trust,” Carter said then. “They’re based on a transaction and on mutual interest to the extent \u2014 and when and as we’re able to identify that with the Russians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“To the extent that Russia can align with US interests, we work with them as has been the case in Iran, North Korea and other places where US and Russian interests have aligned,” Carter added at the time. “It’s the alignment of those interests that Secretary Kerry’s exploring. That’s what it’s about.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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