• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Politics
  4. Top US, Russian Generals Hold 'Productive' Talks
Politics

Top US, Russian Generals Hold 'Productive' Talks

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Sep 2021 23:51

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, met with Chief of Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, in Helsinki to work on "risk reduction and operational de-confliction."

  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley meets with Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov in Helsinki, Finland, September 22, 2021 | AFP
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley meets with Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov in Helsinki, Finland, September 22, 2021 (AFP)

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, met Wednesday with Chief of Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, in Helsinki, Finland. The details of the talks remained obscure, as the two sides agreed not to disclose them.

However, the two parties said the meeting was productive, saying it "makes the world a safer place" when "military leaders of great powers communicate."

This meeting, the first between the two senior generals since December 2019, aimed at "improving military leadership communication between the two nations for the purposes of risk reduction and operational de-confliction," said Colonel Dave Butler, Milley's spokesman.

The talks come as the United States is struggling to secure basing rights and other efforts to curb the influence of armed groups in countries neighboring Afghanistan, amid fears of said armed groups plotting attacks against the United States.

As the complete withdrawal was announced, US President Joe Biden asserted that Washington would maintain its capabilities around Afghanistan, so it does not become a 'safe haven' for armed groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as it was during the Taliban rule before 2001. US military leaders said they can conduct counterterrorism surveillance and - if necessary - strikes in Afghanistan from military assets based in other countries.

The United States, however, who had military bases in 6 countries bordering Afghanistan, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to "conduct operations in Afghanistan," no longer has any military bases in Central Asia. On the other hand, Russia has several military bases in several Central Asian countries.

The countries in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization announced a few days ago that they would not accept any foreign military bases inside their territories. 

Kazakhstan, a treaty member, said it supports the CSTO's common position that the status of Afghan refugees or the deployment of foreign military bases on their territory is unacceptable.

  • United States
  • Moscow
  • Afghanistan
  • Finland
  • Russia
  • Taliban
  • Mark Milley
  • Helsinki

Trending Now

All
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto

Finland aims for peace on borders with Russia: FM

Most Read

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference on 25, February, 2022. (AFP)

Kiev unable to launch counteroffensive: Zelensky

  • Europe
  • 25 Mar
Europe's move has only increased Putin’s esteem outside the West -- but estimation of Europe’s political nous and understanding of Russia, however, is sharply diminished.

Lawfare Comes into Fashion: The New Geo-political ‘Rack’

  • Analysis
  • 25 Mar
President Joe Biden listens as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 3, 2023 (AP).

Hersh: Nord Stream explosion decision possibly 'anger' or 'punishment

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Mar
Crewmen enter Bradley fighting vehicles at a US military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, on November 11, 2019 (AP)

US occupation bases under fire in Syria for second day in a row

  • MENA
  • 24 Mar

Read this

All
SDF and US troops in occupied Al Hasakah, Syria. (Reuters)
MENA

ISIS stole US arms in Syria, Iraq: The Intercept

  • Today
US military vehicle is seen on a patrol in the countryside near the town of Qamishli, Syria, December 4, 2022 (AP)
MENA

6 US occupation troops suffer 'traumatic brain injuries' in Syria: DoD

  • 30 Mar
A woman walks by a money exchange shop decorated with different countries currency banknotes at Central, a business district in Hong Kong, Aug. 6, 2019 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Europe

New BRICS currency underway: State Duma Deputy Chairman

  • 30 Mar
President Joe Biden speaks alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Summit for Democracy virtual plenary in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, March 29, 2023, in Washington, DC, United States (AP)
Latin America

Brazil refuses to sign Summit for Democracy declaration against Russia

  • 30 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS