US and Russia sign ‘deconfliction’ memorandum to avoid clashes in Syria’s skies
The document establishes several protocols aimed at maintaining professional airmanship, as well as the use of radio frequencies and the creation of a secondary line of communication on the ground
The United States and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes measures so their pilots steer clear of each other as they conduct separate bombing campaigns in Syria, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said the document was signed earlier in the day and took immediate effect.
“There’s a series of protocols in place that effectively are intended to avoid any sort of risk of a mid-air incident between our air crews and Russian air crews,” Cook said.
“If they follow these protocols, we should not have the risk of engagement with Russian air crews over Syria.”
Moscow also reported that both countries had signed the memorandum.
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The Pentagon says Russia had initially asked for “deconfliction” talks with the United States after Moscow launched its air war in Syria on September 30 in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.