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Immediate Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's meeting with the Emirati Minister of State for Defense Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Defense Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi today in Brussels.

Secretary Carter thanked the Minister for participating in Thursday's meeting of Counter-ISIL coalition defense ministers. He also welcomed the UAE's willingness to rejoin the coalition air campaign and provide additional support on the ground.

The secretary acknowledged the online efforts of the U.A.E.-based Sawab Center to counter propaganda and reveal ISIL's true criminal nature and intent, and the work of the Forum for Peace in Muslim Societies to help religious scholars better connect with Muslim youth in the U.A.E. and around the world.

The secretary and the minister agreed to continue the close communications between the two countries.