Mattis sees no military collaboration

US President Donald Trump's defense secretary yesterday said he did not see possible military collaboration with Russia now, in a blow to Moscow's hopes to mend ties with Washington after Trump's election.

The remarks are perhaps the strongest indication yet from the Trump administration that prospects for any significant cooperation between the US and Russian militaries against Islamic State in Syria is unlikely anytime soon.

They came despite repeated suggestions by Trump during his election campaign of the possibility of joint action against Islamic State militants.

"We are not in a position right now to collaborate on a military level. But our political leaders will engage and try to find common ground," Jim Mattis told reporters after talks at Nato headquarters in Brussels, also mentioning US concerns about Russian interference in democratic elections.

Just hours before Mattis spoke, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was in the interests of both nations to restore communications between their intelligence agencies.

"It's absolutely clear that in the area of counter-terrorism all relevant governments and international groups should work together," he told Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).