Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has met with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, to discuss the condition of U.S.-Russia military relations, DoD News reported Thursday.
Jim Garamone writes the face-to-face meeting between Dunford and his Russian counterpart took place Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frank McKenzie, director of strategic plans and policy at the Joint Staff, said the meeting aims to keep the communication lines open between U.S. and Russian militaries and that Dunford also cited how the U.S. values its “military-to-military” relationship with Russia.
“The purpose is to establish and reinforce procedures for us to talk in case we have an incident where we need to exchange information rapidly,†McKenzie noted.
He added that the meeting also seeks to advance transparency and prevent “miscalculation,†according to the report.
