Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday that Russia poses a “very significant threat” to the U.S., but stopped short of agreeing with service leaders who named it the top threat.
Describing Russia’s behavior under President Vladimir Putin as that of an “antagonist,” Carter said a potential conflict with Russia is not something the U.S. thought it would have to deal with since the Cold War.
“But it is and so we are,” he said. “That’s an adjustment we have to make.”
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, who will take over as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs this year, and Army Gen. Mark Milley, who recently became the Army’s new chief of staff, both named Russia as the top threat during confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill.
“If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I’d have to point to Russia. And if you look at their behavior, it’s nothing short of alarming,” Dunford said at a Senate Armed Services Committee in July.
While the U.S. must deal with Russia’s new aggression on the world stage, Carter said America will continue to work with Russia on things like counterterrorism and conflicts with Iran and North Korea. This cooperation leaves the door open for a peaceful future relationship with Russia, he said.
