"Whether it be diplomatic pressure, or sanctions pressure, or military pressure, kinetic pressure, it [Russia] could potentially be a game-changer," Coats said when asked how Russia would contribute to an anti-terrorism coalition.
On Monday, French President Francois Hollande called for the United States and Russia to join forces in the fight against the ISIL, after Russia and the US-led coalition have fought the terrorist threat in parallel over the past two months.
"Given the seriousness of this issue [ISIL threat] and given the spread of this issue, it’s time that we ought to reconsider whether or not we can form some type of relationship with Russia to address this Paris threat," the senator said.
Coats added that for US-Russian collaboration to take place, "there needs to be some signals sent from the very top" of the US and Russian governments.
The senator pointed to the US-Russia partnership during World War II, saying "It has been done before, 1941, and sometimes the enemy of your enemy is your friend."
