BODO, Norway — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has
appointed a retired Army general as a special envoy to the Ukrainian minister
of defense, a move that Pentagon officials said would deepen American ties to
the Ukrainian military and that is likely to anger Russia.
Gen. John P. Abizaid, who once led the United States
Central Command, will advise the defense minister, Stepan Poltorak, on ways to
strengthen Ukraine’s military. The appointment comes amid increased
tensions between Russia and Ukraine over pro-Russian eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Carter told reporters traveling with him that the
new appointment did not mean that the United States had decided to provide
Ukraine with offensive military weaponry or maneuvers against Russia in the
east. He said the Pentagon was simply seeking to bolster Ukraine’s defensive
capability.
Pentagon officials also said the United States would
probably increase its training activities with Ukraine’s military.
General Abizaid was the head of Central Command during
the first four years of the war in Iraq.
Mr. Carter is in Bodo for meetings with Norwegian
defense officials.
No comments:
Post a Comment