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| Defense Secretary Warns Russia to Stay Out of U.S. Elections | Defense Secretary Warns Russia to Stay Out of U.S. Elections |
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| OXFORD, England — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter lashed out at Russia on Wednesday, accusing the government of President Vladimir V. Putin of demonstrating a “clear ambition to erode” international order and warning Russia to stay out of the American elections. | OXFORD, England — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter lashed out at Russia on Wednesday, accusing the government of President Vladimir V. Putin of demonstrating a “clear ambition to erode” international order and warning Russia to stay out of the American elections. |
| Speaking on Wednesday at Oxford University in England, Mr. Carter used language that evoked a time before the fall of the Berlin War, when leaders in Washington and Moscow were entrenched global adversaries. “The United States does not seek a cold, let alone a hot war, with Russia,” Mr. Carter said. “But make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the principled international order, and the positive future it affords all of us.” | Speaking on Wednesday at Oxford University in England, Mr. Carter used language that evoked a time before the fall of the Berlin War, when leaders in Washington and Moscow were entrenched global adversaries. “The United States does not seek a cold, let alone a hot war, with Russia,” Mr. Carter said. “But make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the principled international order, and the positive future it affords all of us.” |
| He also warned Moscow that Washington “will not ignore attempts to interfere with our democratic processes.” The F.B.I. is investigating whether Russia hacked into computer systems of the Democratic National Committee. Mr. Carter accused Russia of “undercutting the work and contributions of others rather than creating or making any positive contributions on its own,” and said that Moscow was sowing “instability rather than cultivating stability.” | |
| His sharp criticism amplifies the already tense standoff between Washington and Moscow over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, the hacking issue, and the role of NATO, which is on Russia’s doorstep. But it is also noteworthy because Mr. Carter was venturing, even if obliquely, without referencing a particular candidate, where most defense secretaries have not: election-year politics. | His sharp criticism amplifies the already tense standoff between Washington and Moscow over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, the hacking issue, and the role of NATO, which is on Russia’s doorstep. But it is also noteworthy because Mr. Carter was venturing, even if obliquely, without referencing a particular candidate, where most defense secretaries have not: election-year politics. |
| American intelligence officials say that there is evidence that shows Russian intelligence agencies were behind breaches of the D.N.C.’s computer systems and that the Russians tried to gain access to the servers for other Democratic organizations. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has drawn a direct line between the suspected Russian activity and her Republican rival, Donald J. Trump. | American intelligence officials say that there is evidence that shows Russian intelligence agencies were behind breaches of the D.N.C.’s computer systems and that the Russians tried to gain access to the servers for other Democratic organizations. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has drawn a direct line between the suspected Russian activity and her Republican rival, Donald J. Trump. |
| When pressed during a news conference in London after his speech on Wednesday, Mr. Carter said he was not only talking about Russian breaches of American computer systems. “This is a common concern of all the NATO countries, and part of what we call hybrid warfare,” he said. | When pressed during a news conference in London after his speech on Wednesday, Mr. Carter said he was not only talking about Russian breaches of American computer systems. “This is a common concern of all the NATO countries, and part of what we call hybrid warfare,” he said. |
| Mr. Carter’s criticism on Tuesday comes as the United States and Russia have been struggling to keep alive negotiations to end the fighting between American-backed Syrian rebels and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia’s ally. President Obama expressed skepticism this week that an unlikely alliance between rivals would yield the breakthrough needed to end the five-year-old civil war. | Mr. Carter’s criticism on Tuesday comes as the United States and Russia have been struggling to keep alive negotiations to end the fighting between American-backed Syrian rebels and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia’s ally. President Obama expressed skepticism this week that an unlikely alliance between rivals would yield the breakthrough needed to end the five-year-old civil war. |
| Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin huddled on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic summit in Hangzhou, China, this week, but were unable to breach what Mr. Obama called “gaps of trust.” | Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin huddled on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic summit in Hangzhou, China, this week, but were unable to breach what Mr. Obama called “gaps of trust.” |
| In his speech at Oxford, his alma mater, Mr. Carter mentioned the lack of trust. “Russia entered the Syrian tragedy saying it wanted to counter terrorism and end the civil war — the source of so much suffering — through a political transition,” Mr. Carter said. “But what it has done is very different from what it said.” | In his speech at Oxford, his alma mater, Mr. Carter mentioned the lack of trust. “Russia entered the Syrian tragedy saying it wanted to counter terrorism and end the civil war — the source of so much suffering — through a political transition,” Mr. Carter said. “But what it has done is very different from what it said.” |
| The comments reflect increased frustration among American officials over whether the negotiations between Secretary of State John Kerry and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, will bear any fruit. | The comments reflect increased frustration among American officials over whether the negotiations between Secretary of State John Kerry and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, will bear any fruit. |
| On Sunday, the negotiations appeared to move slightly as Mr. Kerry met for two hours in Hangzhou with Mr. Lavrov. At one point, the State Department was confident enough to schedule a news conference, when the two men were supposed to announce a deal. But Mr. Kerry appeared alone, and said that a “couple of tough issues” still divided the two sides. | On Sunday, the negotiations appeared to move slightly as Mr. Kerry met for two hours in Hangzhou with Mr. Lavrov. At one point, the State Department was confident enough to schedule a news conference, when the two men were supposed to announce a deal. But Mr. Kerry appeared alone, and said that a “couple of tough issues” still divided the two sides. |
| At the Pentagon, some defense officials have expressed skepticism that an acceptable deal can be reached. The negotiations are further complicated since Turkey recently began an offensive ostensibly against Islamic State targets in Syria, but one that also included American-backed Kurdish fighters in the region. Mr. Carter is to meet with the Turkish defense minister on Thursday in London. | At the Pentagon, some defense officials have expressed skepticism that an acceptable deal can be reached. The negotiations are further complicated since Turkey recently began an offensive ostensibly against Islamic State targets in Syria, but one that also included American-backed Kurdish fighters in the region. Mr. Carter is to meet with the Turkish defense minister on Thursday in London. |
| Separately, the Pentagon said that a Russian warplane conducted what it called “an unsafe close-range intercept” of an American Navy reconnaissance plane on Wednesday that was operating in international airspace over the Black Sea. | Separately, the Pentagon said that a Russian warplane conducted what it called “an unsafe close-range intercept” of an American Navy reconnaissance plane on Wednesday that was operating in international airspace over the Black Sea. |
| The Pentagon said that the episode lasted for 19 minutes, with the Russian plane coming within 10 feet of the American plane. | The Pentagon said that the episode lasted for 19 minutes, with the Russian plane coming within 10 feet of the American plane. |
| “These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident which results in serious injury or death,” according to a statement released by Pentagon officials. | “These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident which results in serious injury or death,” according to a statement released by Pentagon officials. |