Head of US Air Force Global Strike Command for mending cooperation with Russia

WASHINGTON, January 27 /TASS/. Head of the US Air Force Global Strike Command, Lieutenant-General Stephen Wilson, has underscored the importance of bilateral military cooperation between the United States and Russia in the military sphere. General Wilson is the curator of two components of the United States’ nuclear triad - inter-continental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. Interviewed by a group of journalists, including a TASS correspondent, Wilson said that "it's important that we maintain mil-to-mil relationships with countries, Russia and China, specifically, that with mil-to-mil relationships we have common dialogue, understanding, share experiences, we can avoid any type of miscommunication and misunderstanding." In the meantime, he acknowledged that at the moment Russia and the Pentagon had no such relationship of that quality. "Those have been lacking as of recent," he remarked. The reason is last March the United States at its own initiative froze its military ties with Russia over Ukraine. "Although the Department of Defense finds value in the military-to-military relationship with the Russian Federation we have developed over the past few years to increase transparency, build understanding, and reduce the risk of military miscalculation we have, in light of recent events in Ukraine, put on hold all military-to-military engagements between the United States and Russia," the Pentagon then said in a statement. Wilson believes that bilateral military relations "are important to have going forward so that at the most senior levels, again, there is no misunderstanding between our countries." Asked to comment on his meeting with Lieutenant-General Anatoly Zhikharyov, General Wilson said: "I had a dinner with a head of the /Russian/ long-range aviation a few years ago at my house." "I think the importance of that meeting was that it was a first time I met him, that we talked about the relationship. It involves a mutual understanding, shared experiences, dialogue. And we haven't had one since," Wilson said. "And I'm trying. I think it's important that we continue the dialogue and discussion. We do so, I know we are, at various levels... And it's not just me. Ultimately, I would like to see Majors build a relationship further, deeper in their careers, and understanding between Russia, China and others. It's good to have Generals talking to one another. But ultimately, be it the professional military education or other forms, there is goodness to building that mil-to-mil relationship with counterparts," General Wilson said. He added he had tried to contact his Russian after the Ukraine crisis had started but the Russian side did not agree to establish such contacts. "I have been unsuccessful," General Wilson said. Read more