In a rare and high-stakes communication, Russian Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov directly warned U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown about upcoming hypersonic missile tests in the eastern Mediterranean. The call, which occurred on November 27, highlights the fragile state of U.S.-Russia relations amid escalating tensions over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The call, initiated by Gerasimov, remained undisclosed until media reports surfaced days later. During the conversation, the Russian general requested U.S. Navy ships in the region avoid the missile test area, signaling an effort to prevent direct confrontation between the two nuclear powers.
Hypersonic Missile Tests in a Strategic Zone
Shortly after the call, Russia’s defense ministry confirmed successful missile tests involving Zircon hypersonic missiles launched from frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko. Additionally, the submarine Novorossiysk launched a Kalibr cruise missile, while an Onyx missile was fired from the Mediterranean coast. These weapons, capable of evading advanced defense systems, struck their targets, according to Russian officials.
The tests occurred in a geopolitically sensitive area where U.S. forces maintain a strong presence, including amphibious ships and missile defense-equipped destroyers stationed near Israel. Moscow also deployed over 1,000 troops, ten ships, and 24 aircraft during military exercises from December 1 to 3, underscoring its strategic foothold in the region through its naval base in Tartus, Syria.
Contradicting Narratives
Tensions between Washington and Moscow have been further inflamed by U.S. approval of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested recent missile strikes against Ukraine were a response to this decision. However, U.S. officials, citing comments from Gerasimov, reported that the strike was planned “long before” ATACMS deployment.
This divergence in narratives adds to the uncertainty surrounding Moscow’s military actions and intentions. Compounding these concerns, Russia recently revised its nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons—a move that has alarmed Western leaders.
A Fragile Communication Channel
The call between Gen. Brown and Gen. Gerasimov, their first since Brown assumed his position, was described as a rare attempt to address escalating tensions and avoid miscalculation. Capt. Jereal Dorsey, a spokesperson for Gen. Brown, confirmed that the conversation covered “global and regional security issues, including the conflict in Ukraine.”
While the Pentagon has not elaborated further, the dialogue underscores the precarious nature of U.S.-Russia relations. Observers see these limited communications as essential to managing risks of accidental escalation between two adversaries heavily armed with advanced weapons.
Rising Tensions, Fragile Peace
As Moscow flexes its military capabilities in the Mediterranean and revises its strategic policies, U.S.-Russia relations continue to strain under the weight of the Ukraine conflict. While calls like the one between Brown and Gerasimov offer a narrow lifeline for diplomacy, they also highlight the ever-present risk of miscalculation in an increasingly volatile global landscape.