US-Russia Defense Ministers Talk on the Phone

On March 15, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu had a phone call to exchange views on the causes and consequences of a US drone crashing into the Black Sea on March 14.

The US defence secretary has assured his Russian counterpart that Washington will continue to fly its aircraft in international airspace, a day after a Russian jet allegedly shot down a US drone over the Black Sea, an incident Washington called “unsafe”.

Speaking after the phone call between the two defense ministers, Mr. Austin said his message was: "The United States will continue to fly and operate wherever international law allows. And Russia's mission is to operate its military aircraft safely and professionally."

Meanwhile, according to the Russian Defense Ministry , Mr. Shoigu pointed out that the cause of the above incident was the US side's failure to comply with the regulations on the flight restriction zone announced by Russia in connection with its special military operation as well as the US side's increased intelligence activities against Russia. Minister Shoigu noted that the flights of US strategic drones off the coast of Crimea were provocative in nature, creating the conditions for an escalation of the situation in the Black Sea region.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Moscow is not interested in such developments, but it will continue to respond adequately to any provocations, saying that major nuclear powers must act responsibly, including by maintaining military communication channels to discuss emergencies.

Contacts between senior Russian and US officials have been rare since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, as bilateral relations have sunk to their lowest point in decades.

VNA

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-te/tin-tuc/bo-truong-quoc-phong-my-nga-dien-dam-721936