Building up to congressional testimony, if you cannot tell. Obviously, i do not want to continue to bang the drum about the centrality of european command to the Global NationalSecurity Issues we face. I do want to bang the drum. It is not what it was 18 months ago, or even six months ago. New threats and challenges seemingly emerge every day. We stand ready to meet them, and the supporting commands of silicon and afrikaans and the supporting test command every day. Finally, our commitment to our article five obligation in europe is ironclad. Giving the complexity of challenges we face globally, it remains critical that we continue to Work Together with our allies and partners. This has been true for 60 years, and it is true today. With that, im ready to take your questions. General, the army chief just returned from ukraine. On the way home he said he is recommending a search of army forces into europe. What does that mean . And if i could, have you seen evidence that the russians have russian cargo flights are ferrying weapons into syria . There has been some reporting that there were 10 days, twice a day flights in breach of Un Security Council resolutions. General breedlove let me answer the second was first, it is fairly easy prey i am not personally seen any confirmation of that. I read the same things you have read. I cannot give you any other definition on that. As to the generals remarks, he is a good friend and a great chief. He had i have been talking from the very beginning about how we would address force concerns in europe. Our force structure in europe now is not adequate to the larger rustler russian task that we see. How do we address that . We all accept that our current permanent force structure will probably not change. How do we address the need for increased force posture . What we see is working to gather on a formula of increased prepositioning of equipment forward, as you know we have just now finished the full deployment of one heavy brigade of the positions which forward. Were now looking at what further reposition material we need to address. We had worked on this before he left. We have to take up into the next administration for the chief of staff of the army. We have highlighted what is important. The ability to rapidly reinforce europe will rely first on fastmoving troops following it on prepositioning materials. We need to have the appropriate composition and type of position materials forward. Both generals before and after and i have very similar visions of what that will take. And then, to address the force posture that full said, what you have seen already in our operation is a rotating force into these most former nations most former nations of the balkans, and romania and bulgaria. We are talking about the appropriate size and composition of that future horse that marys with a nato rotation into the same nation to develop assurance and deterrence into the future. These are the things that were talking about. General, you talk about turkey has little bit. Last week secretary carter said that there were going to be lower more airstrikes going forward. What rules does inservice play in that . We have seen airforce platforms going in there. Going in there. What kind of missions with a be doing . What is the future for turkey . General breedlove i will be a bit unsatisfying. I will not share the details because we are still discussing this. But yes, we are looking at some increases to the capabilities. We are looking at it in two venues. One venue, to provide some increases support as you mentioned. Secondarily, to show in the nato sites, support to our turkish ally as we continue to address their concerns about their airspace. In the venue of the nato mission we might be making some contributions as well. But details are set to follow. I cannot confirm that we are looking at all of these options. When you look at the ground at not more, when you seeing in terms of the turks unwilling at this point to let the forces, the kurdish, then are they in syria, Northern RockNorthern Iraq move around and advance to the west the many sins of the turks are basically one of the factors keeping those forces bottled up. What would you like to see happen on that warner border so they can carry out the president strategy of more progress . General breedlove i will answer most of that. A lot of the question is best addressed to a different officer. First, let me talk about the yukon side of the border. We see, as you know, and you seen reported, and a lot of improvement in the turkish control of that border. They have put a turkish Brigadier General who has been given the mission of stopping the flow of especially foreign fighters across the border. We have all seen a marked improvement. There are still work to be done, but we have seen an of a marked improvement. They did position to try to address that issue. We see a good progression on the north side of the border. On the south side of the border, as you described, this is a complicated area. People in these areas are seeing differently by different nations in the area. What i would tell you is that we are committed to work very closely with our turkish allies to address their concerns about but to forward the mission on the south side of that border. What are the specific concerns you are hearing from the turks about the south side of the border . General breedlove as you know, our turkish allies see some of the kurdish factions in a way that threatens them. They have been defined as terrorists and others in some cases. The turks are very concerned that we are working appropriately with all the groups on the south side of that order. That is what i mentioned earlier. That we will work with turkey to address their concerns closely on that side of the border. As we work toward advancing the mission of moving i sold to the south. Isil to the south. You sent that russian action in syria provides more questions than answers. They are popping up and saw a going after any ruggles of threatened this. What questions do you have . General breedlove they have been clear in the very recent past about what theyre doing. They started off saying we are all about isil and what we saw happening on the ground was very different. Their approach is beginning to clarify now, and theyre pretty forward about the fact that they are bombing the moderate Syrian Opposition and other groups. That raises questions about what is our future path in syria. I think we need a political transition in syria. The moderate opposition is a part of forcing that political decision. The actions we see the russians taking now prolonged this conflict which prolongs the conflict prolongs the oslo people outflow of people. The idea of allowing political transition in syria the moderate opposition, some of which are treated supported by the u. S. , should the u. S. Do anything about it . General breedlove i think i would just refer you to the comments of both the secretary and killed him for and dunford. We need to support our moderate opposition. My question is about the imf treaty. It is reported that russia conducted a test of a new launch missile which is said to be a violation that was identified a year ago. Are you concerned about this new threat to europe, and what are you doing to ensure the allies . The russians also said they would withdraw from the treaty if the u. S. Went ahead with plans to play additional Tactical Nuclear weapons and can you address those . General breedlove you said if we deploy additional tactical weapons . I not sure that is what they said. Theyre questioning what were talking about in the upgrade of our practical nuclear weapons, yes. Not to trivialize your first question, but this is not the first time we have seen testing that looks like it violates the imf. We have been discussing this with them for some time now. Both in the u. S. Bilateral sense and also nato is equally concerned about it. The violation is not new, and yes we are concerned. You have heard our secretary talk as long as she can go about how he sees a framework for addressing those violations. What we have here are threats that are being made in the case of our upgrade, our Extension Program to our Tactical Nuclear weapons in europe. Were not bringing new weapons, we are not bringing more weapons. Were ensuring the safety and functionality of the weapons that are there. We actually believe this is something that is another way to create dialogue and bring pressure on our alliance. There is nothing new about these weapons as far as numbers, etc. We have a long program and we are continuing with the upgrade of our weapons and this is about safety and reliability. These are things that you want to have a nuclear weapons. Im stymied of concern at the concern. Take it back for a second. You have the russian buildup inside syria, and this is what should happen. The fact that back in june or july a few people would have guessed that russia would double down in syria in some of the side. Do you think there is a lack of this capability to anticipate decisions by russia . How does that affect your decisionmaking and your role right now in nato . General breedlove i have answered this question several times in the past. I have for example find we have a lack of ability to see into russia, especially at the operational tactical level. We have conducted and focus on the strategic level across the years. Why has this happened . I do not fall for the relation has done. Remember that over the last few decades we have been trying to make a partner out of russia. Some say as much as to decades of 18 years, 14 years, it does not matter exactly what it is great but for almost two decades, since the fall of the wall, weve been trying to bring russia into a family of norms and values that ally with the western world. We see a lot of reaching out to them in economics, energy, etc. , in europeans and americans at this time. A 2008, we had a verbal where they charge you. That was concerning. But the world went back to trying to make a partner out of russia after 2008. The recently they evaded crimea. During that time, when we are trying to make a partner out of russia, and we were having these issues and iraq and afghanistan in other places, we have taken our limited bucket of Intelligence Surveillance and work on a hints capabilities and focus them at the operational and deck will level in the world. Weve taken the view off russia. We had kept a strong focus on their strategic level so we could keep after those things that worried us most in their strategic forces. The capability to include analysts that we needed on russia has been shifted to the pressing concerns that we saw. We are not where we need to be now. And eic is addressing it has already made some fairly dramatic changes in the last several months. About how we use our analyst and they are beginning to look at we f reprioritizing assets as well. Were gently turning the nose of this ship to get back to what we need to be looking at. Just to recap, i think our nation made decisions over the last two decades that were congruent with our approach to russia. Now we see that possibly we did not have that partner that we thought we had the last two decades. Were having to readjust and im thankful for it. If i could follow up. Data think you can do business with the russians at this point in time . Right now i do not see them as a partner. I would ask you to greet their paper across the last 18 months. The lets get this on the table as well. If we are going to have a europe at peace and prosperous, at some point in the future when they have changed their behavior on the ground, we need to find that relationship in the future. Other russians still based at nato headquarters in brussels . I think that the largest part of the russian delegation has departed brussels. I do believe there is a small contact point there. I do not have the exact numbers but my characterization is there is a big mission that has gone down. I know you love to speak about Intelligence Matters from the podium. Can you talk about reprioritizing . General breedlove can i ask you to talk to them about it . I will be extremely honest. I know the details, but im not willing to talk to them at this podium. I would ask you to talk to them about them. The Intelligence Community has seen they need, and make adjustments that are appropriate. But it will take time. Youre seeing better intelligence on russian activities . General breedlove id rather do you see the need for the International Body to investigate the Doctors Without Borders . The strikes at the hospital . General breedlove there is an International Body looking into it right now. As you know, we have a nato investigation that is ongoing and i think it will report out sooner rather than later. I think it is approaching a time when it can report out. I think that our u. S. Investigation is ongoing. I think that our leadership has been extremely clear in this. We support a full, transparent, open investigation. That is what is happening first and foremost in this case. We are all saddened by the loss of life and our hearts and minds, to the families of the that are lost. We need to learn. You have heard the commanders say that this was a mistake and that we are looking at everything from personnel actions to procedural actions to equipment issues to determine how and what happens so we can address them in the future. You support an International Body investigating this . There was a recent report that suggested that you would look favorably upon that, having an International Body. It is that correct . General breedlove i am in favor of whatever it takes to get to a full of open, transparent investigation. Including an International Body . General breedlove anything it takes to get to a full, open, and transparent investigation. Thank you for being with us. Good to see you again. I want to ask about two things you talk about. In ukraine you talked about the United States is going to start training the ministry to ministry of defense troops. Can you give us an idea of the training that will be going on . Also in syria, some critics have said, on refugee crisis that russia was filling a vacuum that european nations were not helping within syria. Can you talk about some of the conversations you have had with your european counterparts on the situation . Anymore commitment to help in syria . General breedlove lets first go to the training. Not to waste your time, but ive been there, i have watched the training on the ground, i have watched the last iteration of training to the National Guard troops. The scope, size and type on a change in all. We will do start to rotate through battalions of active duty and National Guard. In our context that may sound like a big division, in their it is not too much in the training will be almost exactly the same. We are working on small unit skills, leadership skills. The ability to employ as a team, etc. I must tell you that our soldiers are pretty impressed with their soldiers. What the green have done, which i think is very smart, as they bring these battalions backed they have a mix of new guys, but they also have those who have been on the front line, under fire from the russians every day. They have a great experience of what it is like to be hit by modern artillery. These guys are able to share inside of their formation as they are being trained by our troops. Very little change. I do not agree with the assertion that there is a filling on a vacuum. Remember we have a coalition that is addressing this problem. All 28 nations of nato are in that coalition. The europeans are a part of the force that is working against isil and syria. I think russias goal is separate and clear. If we want to talk about that, we can do that. Back on the reprioritization, in one of your previous visits, you talked about isr. I wanted to ask you about the broad isr, you said it was a small percentage. 2 . Have you been getting more isr coverage . The changes to the system this is an annual cycle of how this is allocated. That is happening in the building now. The results are not out. The building is clearly clearly understand my requirement for isr. One of the reasons im back here is to work this issue. [indiscernible] what about the navy . The russian fleet has shown activity in the black sea. Do you see the need for any additional naval forces . First, the good news. As you know, a fourth of the destroyers that will be stationed have arrived and entered into our rotation. Unlike the air forces and other forces, armed forces in europe which have drawn down for a while, the navy forces are actually growing in europe as the ships are permanently assigned. We have four very capable destroyers that are a huge part of our rotation capability and have already been used to demonstrate freedom of action in the black sea and other places which the russians would like to say. The good news is that is there. There is a requirement for more. Again, ross us how we allocate those forces are going on in this building right now. That is part of the reason i am here to advocate what i think is an increased need to address the russian navy as it is growing any black sea fleet as you have seen as presence grow in the eastern mediterranean, etc. [indiscernible] Crisis Response from europe or it. They would like to be a float. Could would they benefit from having some other ship to be on . You just put a fact on the table that is not in my work. Right now, frankly, the acceptance of our great allies, italy, greece, others to move them around, we need to have them postured for rapid insertion. We are getting incredible cooperation out of these nations. I think that right now our ability can be met from our current construct. Going back to ukraine and russia, your comments on russias involvement in ukraine has been unchanged over the past few months. I was wondering if there is anything you are seeing on the ground that has given you cause for concern or is it safe to say that russia has shifted its efforts from ukraine to syria . It is an entry excellent question and when i wanted to answer. I think we have to examine what is going on in ukraine. What im concerned about is that folks have taken their eye off of ukraine a little bit because of what is happening in syria. That is that is a technique that i think has been employed here a couple of times