Carter: NATO must stand together in face of Russian aggression, but avoid new cold war

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter smiles during his visit to the I. German-Dutch Brigade in Muenster, Germany, Monday, June 22, 2015. The troops are part of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (The Associated Press)

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US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter looks at pictures of a maneuvers during his visit to the I. German-Dutch Brigade in Muenster, Germany, Monday, June 22, 2015. The troops are part of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (The Associated Press)

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, right, listens to NATO Response Force soldiers during his visit to the I. German-Dutch Brigade in Muenster, Germany, Monday, June 22, 2015. The troops are part of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (The Associated Press)

BERLIN – Defense Secretary Ash Carter is calling on Germany and other NATO allies to stand together in the face of Russian aggression and other security threats in the region.

But he insisted no one is looking for another Cold War or new hot conflict with Moscow.

Speaking not far from Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, Carter pointed to the progress that Europe has made since the end of the Cold War — and said Russia must not be allowed to turn back the clock.

But 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.