NATO has made attempts to reestablish military-to-military talks with Russia after they were cut off nearly two years ago, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Philip Breedlove told reporters on Thursday, Sputnik reported.
Describing NATO-Russia military communication as "important," Breedlove stated that "we are hoping to get some progress" in reestablishing those ties.
"The chairman of the [NATO] Military Committee, the senior-most military person up at the political headquarters, has been trying to reestablish contact with his counterpart, [Russian Chief of the General Staff] Valery Gerasimov, and to no avail. I think they have reached out twice," Breedlove said.
NATO chairman of the Military Committee, Czech General Petr Pavel, assumed his post in June 2015.
So far, NATO "is trying" to renew military contact between Gen. Pavel and Gen. Gerasimov, but it "has not connected," he added.
Breedlove noted that the last time he contacted his Russian counterpart, General Gerasimov, was after the Crimea referendum vote to rejoin Russia in March 2014.
The lack of communication between the two military powers has raised concern among some former US officials about the danger of unintended escalations between NATO and Russia.