Russia, US establishing “rhythm of consultations” in defense sphere

[Tim22]

Heads of the Russian and US defense ministries have signed two important agreements in Washington, resuming cooperation suspended in 2008.

Anatoly Serdyukov has become the first Russian minister of defense to visit the Pentagon since January 2005. The main issues of his talks with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Wednesday were the reform of the armed forces and cooperation in the military sphere.

Serdyukov and Gates signed a joint statement and memorandum of understanding that replaced the previous document agreed in 1993. They also discussed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and missile defense.

The meeting is considered as part of resetting Russian-US relations. Military cooperation between Moscow and Washington hit its low point in 2008 after the events in Caucasus.

Military reforms in both Russian and US armed forces are painful, Serdyukov noted at a briefing after his talks with Gates. However, they are necessary “to create a modern army, the army of the 21st century,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

[RussianKeyboards.com]

Military reforms in both Russian and US armed forces are painful

Actually, a military reform never happened in Russia since the "Great" October Socialist revolution. As we can see from the Russian invasion to Georgia, US should never trust the Russian generals.