Joint Press Conference by Secretary Carter and Secretary Michael Fallon > U.S. Department o... 9 of 14 https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/937142/joint-press-conference-... Secretary Fallon, could you speak a bit to the earlier question about Russia meddling in politics, and specifically looking at Europe? To what extent do you think that there is interference in the politics of -- of European states by Moscow? SEC. FALLON: Well, we've seen some pretty intensive interference, for example, in the Netherlands during the referendum they held there on the Association Agreement with Ukraine over some fairly -- over evidence of -- of interference there. And you see this -- Secretary Carter has referred to little green men, but we've seen the use of hybrid warfare to put pressure on social media on -- on the Baltic states as well. So it's something, you know, we have to be aware of and in NATO we have to be better at responding to. Okay. Now, Wall Street Journal. We've got Paul -- (inaudible) -- microphone. Q: Thanks. The first -- I have two questions. One for each of you, if that's okay. The first for Secretary Carter. Judging by some of the comments coming out of the G20 in Laos, it seems like we might be at the end of the road with this potential deal on Syria between the U.S. and Russia. And there's a -- there's a theory of thought that the U.S. needs to increase the costs from the conflict for Syria. In the event that this deal fails, there's a theory that the U.S. needs to -- (inaudible) -- to increase the cost of the conflict for Syria and Russia in order to force a political agreement, otherwise there's not necessarily any incentive for that to happen. Do you agree with that approach? SEC. CARTER: Well, I mean, first of all, you ask is it the end of the line? I think the President's indicated that this wasn't going to go on forever without an agreement, that he was willing to have Secretary Kerry give it another try. And I commend Secretary Kerry's energy in pursuing this, but you're right. 21.02.23, 14:13