Despite a ban on military-to-military communications since Russia invaded Ukraine, Defense Secretary Ash Carter could call his Russian counterpart to discuss Moscow’s military buildup in Syria, a spokesman said Tuesday.
But while Carter could make the call, he has determined it’s not necessary, since Secretary of State John Kerry is taking the lead in discussions with Russia, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said.
“If the secretary believes it makes sense to engage with his Russian counterpart, he will. At this particular moment in time, that’s not happening,” Cook told reporters.
Kerry spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
Last week, Russia began to fly military supplies and advisers to Syria using Iraqi and Iranian airspace. The buildup is in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in the country’s civil war. Media reports suggest that Russia is also providing tanks and establishing an air base in Syria.
The United States, which has made the fight against the Islamic State a priority over overthrowing Assad, has said providing military support to the regime is “counterproductive.”
No communication has occurred at the White House level either, spokesman Josh Earnest said. The president would call Russian President Vladimir Putin about the military escalation in Syria “when it would advance our interests.”
Cook said the White House has not asked Carter to refrain from calling Russian defense leaders.
The lack of communications raises concerns about ensuring that Russian and U.S. jets don’t collide. Despite Russian leaders saying that they have already flown supply flights to Syria over Iraq, where the U.S. is operating planes to strike the Islamic State, Cook declined to comment on the hypothetical of both countries sharing airspace.
Asked if the administration had asked the Pentagon to provide military options specifically to respond if Russia continues to supply Assad’s regime in Syria, Cook said there had been no formal request, but that the department is always looking at what options are available in all conflicts.
“You can be sure that this department is constantly looking at military options, not just with regard to Syria, but around the world. And it, you know, doesn’t need a request from the State Department or the White House for this building to always be looking at contingencies. That’s what this building does,” Cook said.
“I think it’s safe to say that we’re tracking the events carefully, closely. And if something needs to change going forward, then we’ll be prepared to take those contingency steps,” he said.
