FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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Mattis: NATO Will Never ‘Turn Off’ Dialogue with Russia

June 7, 2018 (EIRNS)—U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters en route to NATO headquarters in Brussels, that “NATO will never turn off dialogue with Russia,” according to Sputnik yesterday. “NATO will never turn its back on trying to make better relations with Russia.”

Mattis said that that improving relations between Russia and NATO are hindered by the Kremlin’s alleged interference in U.S. and European elections and its “changing borders in Europe through the force of arms.”

While he said Russia, from NATO’s perspective, has more in common with the Alliance in terms of its future, he insisted it has been extremely difficult to find a common cause with Russia.

In a related development, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford will meet June 8 in Helsinki with Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov. The two have had several such meetings since Obama, who prohibited contact, left office.

NATO’s defense ministers will meet on June 7-8 to prepare for the July summit which is focussed on approving a new command structure that may boost personnel by 1,200.