Russian ministry of defense officials met with Pentagon officials via video conference Wednesday to discuss the US-Russia memorandum of understanding on flight safety over Syria, according to a statement by Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. Both sides are “committed to adhering to the MOU on flight safety as long as each side is operating in Syria,” according to the press release, which also states the conversation was “constructive.” US and Russian defense officials have previously discussed flight safety in Syrian airspace, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said in March that the US must keep communication lines open with Russia even at the “worst of times.”
The Space Force is playing a key role in planning for “Golden Dome,” President Donald Trump’s initiative for comprehensive air and missile defense of the homeland, leaders said this week. But actually building and fielding the ambitious idea will require a major concerted effort across the Pentagon and intelligence community.