Carter: NATO must stand together against Russia aggression

BERLIN (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on Germany and other NATO allies to stand together in the face of Russian aggression and other security threats in the region, but insisted no one is looking for another Cold War or new hot conflict with Moscow.

[...] part of the calculous, Carter said, will be a new playbook for NATO that deals with Russia's aggression while also recognizing its important role in the nuclear talks with Iran and the fight against Islamic State militants.

The Pentagon chief, who will attend his first NATO meeting as secretary of defense this week, said he wants to lay out America's balanced approach, which involves bolstering Europe's military ability to deter Russia's military actions.

Carter's trip comes as the European Union is expected to extend economic sanctions against Russia until January to keep pressure on Moscow over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

[...] it follows Putin's announcement that he will add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles that are capable of piercing any missile defenses.