US Secretary of Defense Ready to Meet With Russian Counterpart

Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said that US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is ready to meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss the situation in Eastern Europe.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is ready to meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss the situation in Eastern Europe, Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said in a press briefing on Monday.

Last week, the US military broke ground on a new base in Poland that will house the Aegis Ashore missile defense system, one day after inaugurating another such system in Romania.

Russia stated the Aegis systems are a direct threat to its security and will undertake necessary measures to neutralize the threat.

"Secretary Carter is prepared to engage with Minister Shoigu in the future, if we feel like that is a productive step to take," Cook stated. "At this point there is no meeting or calls planned."

The US authorities announced the two new bases as an effort to build NATO solidarity and reassure alliance member states in Eastern Europe that the United States remained committed to their defense.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that NATO’s military build-up in Europe is provocative and can result in regional and global destabilization.