Pentagon chief talks to Russia's new defence minister for the first time

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has spoken on the phone for the first time with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.

Source: Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder at a briefing

Details: Ryder said that Austin noted it was important for the Russian and US defence authorities to maintain communication.

The last conversation between representatives of the US and Russian defence authorities took place in March 2023, when Austin spoke with Sergei Shoigu.

Background: 

• Putin replaced Shoigu with Belousov as Russia's defence minister on 12 May. At the same time, Shoigu was appointed Secretary of the Security Council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev.
• Commenting on the Kremlin's personnel rotations, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said that the new head of the Russian Defence Ministry, Belousov, would be another "puppet" of Putin.

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