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☆ Top U.S., Canadian generals discuss Haiti's security situation, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The top U.S. and Canadian generals discussed Haiti's security situation during a call on Wednesday, the U.S. military said in a statement. The office of U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not offer further details on Milley's Haiti discussion with Canada's Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre. Gangs are currently blockading a key Haitian fuel terminal, leaving the country without gasoline and diesel, and leading to dire shortages of food and clean drinking water, just as the country is facing an outbreak of cholera. Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Ash Carter, who served as a U.S. defense secretary during the Obama administration, died late on Monday at the age of 68 after a sudden cardiac event, his family said in a statement on Tuesday. Under Carter, the U.S. military opened all military roles to women and also ended a ban on openly serving transgender service members. "To choose service members on other grounds than military qualifications is social policy and has no place in our military," Carter said at the time. Before becoming defense secretary, Carter served as deputy defense secretary and chief operating officer in the Pentagon. Since leaving public service, Carter led the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Russia has notified the United States about its plans to carry out annual exercises of its nuclear forces, the U.S. government said on Tuesday, a move that Washington said lowers the risk of miscalculation at a time of "reckless" Russian nuclear rhetoric. The United States has said it expects Russia to carry out test launches of missiles during its annual "Grom" exercises of its strategic nuclear forces, noting in the past it has fired inter-continental ballistic missiles. Under the New START Treaty, Russia is obliged to provide advance notification of such missile launches, U.S. officials say. The drills present a potential challenge to the United States and its allies, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has muddied the waters about his intentions after openly threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia in its unraveling invasion of Ukraine. "While Russia engages in unprovoked aggression and reckless nuclear rhetoric, these notification measures do ensure we're not taken by surprise and reduce the risks of misperception," Price said.

☆ Top U.S., Russian generals hold first talks since May-official
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The top U.S. and Russian generals held talks by phone on Monday for the first time since May, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official did not immediately provide further details on the conversation between U.S. Army General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Russian military Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Phil StewartOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pentagon declines to offer details on U.S.-Russia defense call
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Friday declined to offer specifics about the first call since May between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart beyond saying that Austin emphasized a need for lines of communication amid the war in Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesperson told a televised news briefing that Austin initiated the call with Sergei Shoigu and said Friday offered the best opportunity for the two sides to speak, without explaining why that was the case. She did not say whether any additional talks were scheduled between the two. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S., Russian defence chiefs speak, call was needed to clear up misunderstandings -Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke for the first time since May on Friday and a top Russian diplomat said the call was needed to eliminate misunderstandings, TASS news agency reported. The Pentagon declined to offer specifics beyond saying that Austin, who initiated the conversation, emphasized a need for lines of communication amid the war in Ukraine. "Misunderstandings must be cleared up so that there are no accidents ... these are always important contacts, and it's important the Americans were the first to go for it," TASS quoted Vienna-based Russian diplomat Konstantin Gavrilov as telling Russian television. A Pentagon spokeswoman said Friday offered the best opportunity for the two sides to speak, without explaining why that was the case. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by David Ljunggren, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"For the moment, Putin is hanging in there," said Anthony Brenton, a former British ambassador to Russia. In power since 1999, Putin has weathered numerous domestic crises and wars, and more than once faced down large street protests before effectively outlawing any real opposition. The Kremlin says Putin is backed by an overwhelming majority of Russians and won a landslide re-election victory in 2018. said Weiss, who has had various policy roles on the U.S. National Security Council and has written a book about Putin. A senior European official said Putin would have to demonstratively lose the war to be unseated.

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Russia has not yet notified the United States about exercises of its nuclear forces that Washington expects Moscow to carry out soon, a senior U.S. military official said on Monday. That has yet to come, the U.S. military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"No, we have not received any type of official notification," the military official told reporters. The U.S. military official condemned the Russian strikes, saying they appeared designed to terrorize Ukraine's civilian population. The U.S. military official said history showed that air campaigns that try to psychologically cripple a population with such tactics will backfire.

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The United States reaffirmed its commitment to defend "every inch" of NATO territory ahead of talks among defense ministers from the alliance on Thursday that will include closed-door discussions by its nuclear planning group. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterAustin spoke shortly before attending a meeting by NATO's Nuclear Planning Group, which is NATO's senior body on nuclear matters and handles policy issues associated with its nuclear forces. NATO's website says its nuclear policy is under "constant review, and is modified and adapted in light of new developments." "We're going to stay with our efforts to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," Austin said alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. NATO told Moscow on Tuesday it would meet attacks on allies' critical infrastructure with a "united and determined response."

☆ Upcoming Russian nuclear exercises a challenge for the West
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Phil Stewart | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Russia typically holds major annual nuclear exercises around this time of year, and U.S. and Western officials expect them perhaps in just days. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg assured a news conference in Brussels that the alliance would monitor Russia's annual nuclear drills very closely, as it has for decades. "We believe that Russian nuclear rhetoric and its decision to proceed with this exercise while at war with Ukraine is irresponsible," the official told Reuters. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. "While we will continue routine activities to sustain our (nuclear) deterrent, there will be no special messaging around our exercises," the U.S. defense official said.

☆ Is this a drill? Upcoming Russian nuclear exercises a challenge for the West
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Phil Stewart | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

☆ NATO to keep close eye on Russia's upcoming nuclear exercise - Stoltenberg
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - NATO will monitor an expected upcoming Russian nuclear exercise very closely, the alliance's chief said on Thursday, in particular in light of Moscow's latest nuclear threats related to its conflict in Ukraine. "We have monitored Russian nuclear forces for decades and of course we will continue to monitor them very closely and we will stay vigilant - also when they now start a new exercise," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. "What I can say is that this exercise, the Russian exercise, is an annual exercise. It's an exercise where they test and exercise their nuclear forces," he added, apparently referring to Russia's annual Grom exercise that normally takes place in late October and in which Russia tests its nuclear-capable bombers, submarines and missiles. And of course we will remain vigilant, not least in light of the veiled nuclear threats and the dangerous rhetoric we have seen from the Russian side," Stoltenberg said.

☆ Russia's attacks only deepen Ukraine, allied resolve, U.S. defense secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Russia's missile strikes on Ukraine have laid bare the "malice and cruelty" of its war and further united the international community to support Ukraine's military efforts to defend itself, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday. Austin, speaking at the start of a Ukraine-focused meeting at NATO headquarters, praised Ukraine's military gains since September, calling them "extraordinary" and saying they had changed the dynamics of the war. "These victories belong to Ukraine's brave soldiers. But the Contact Group's security assistance, training, and sustainment efforts have been vital," Austin said, addressing the gathering of defense leaders, including from Ukraine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Phil Stewart and Sabine Siebold; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. has not yet delivered NASAMS air defenses to Ukraine -Pentagon
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The United States will not start delivering sophisticated NASAMS air defenses to Ukraine for another two months or so, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, disputing reports suggesting Ukraine had already received them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had been misquoted over the weekend in an English-language television interview transcript suggesting the weapons systems have been delivered. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"The U.S. has not delivered NASAMS to Ukraine at this stage. We expect the first two to be delivered within the next two months or so," Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told a news briefing. The United States has approved sending Ukraine a total of eight NASAMS so far, and Ryder said the remaining six would be "longer term" deliveries.

Ukrainian troops "have pushed across the Oskil. Ukrainian forces swept through the Kharkiv region this month after bursting through the front line, sending thousands of Russian troops fleeing and abandoning their tanks and ammunition. ALARM OVER NUCLEAR PLANTUkraine accused Russian forces on Monday of shelling near the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power plant in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region. "The invaders wanted to shoot again, but they forgot what a nuclear power plant is," Zelenskiy said in a social media post. 1/17 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 16, 2022.

☆ Top U.S. general urges vigilance as Russia weighs Ukraine setbacks
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Phil Stewart | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A MILITARY BASE IN POLAND, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The top U.S. general cautioned on Sunday it remained unclear how Russia might react to the latest battlefield setbacks in Ukraine and called for increased vigilance among U.S. troops as he visited a base in Poland aiding Ukraine's war effort. "They're not willing to scrap it," one soldier said, recalling artillery with shrapnel damage and sometimes completely worn out from firing round after round against Russian troops. "Combat power for Ukraine is staying at the level it is because of America's investment in the sustainment," the soldier said. PUTIN'S OPTIONSThe rout of Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region a week ago has prompted unusually strong public criticism from Russian military commentators. Russian government officials have dismissed Western suggestions that Moscow would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

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