Kerry: Russia does not pose threat to U.S

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry does not agree with Marine General Joseph Dunford that Russia poses an existential threat to the United States, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Toner told a news briefing last night that the secretary doesn't agree with the assessment that Russia is an existential threat to the United States, nor China.

"You know, these are major powers with whom we engage and cooperate on a number of issues, despite any disagreements we may have with them," he said.

On Thursday, Marine General Joseph Dunford told lawmakers weighing his nomination to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Russia presented the greatest threat to U.S. national security.

"If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I'd have to point to Russia," Dunford said. "And if you look at their behaviour, it's nothing short of alarming." U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry did not share the assessment, even though Russia's actions in Ukraine posed regional security challenges.

Toner said Kerry did consider the rapid growth of groups like Daesh, particularly in ungoverned spaces, an existential threat.