[Aljazeera] The top United States military leader, Joint Chiefs Chair General Mark Milley, met with his Russian counterpart, Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, in Helsinki on Wednesday.The meeting of the two military leaders comes after the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan unleashed a new humanitarian crisis in Central Asia and as Washington seeks to coordinate with neighbouring powers on countering armed groups.
"It was a productive meeting. When military leaders of great powers communicate, the world is a safer place," Milley told The Associated Press.
Both sides agreed not to disclose details of the meeting, as has been the practice in previous meetings and calls, the AP reported. But the US basing issue around Afghanistan was a key topic for Milley with NATO counterparts in Greece over the weekend.
Russia and the US have been engaged in a dialogue on strategic stability following the Geneva summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russia President Vladimir Putin in June. But the rapid US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and the sudden rise of the Taliban government in Kabul have raised new security concerns.
Gerasimov and Milley, meeting at a residence near Helsinki, discussed issues of mutual interest including risk mitigation in military activities, according to a report by RIA Novosti, a Russian news service.