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Immediate Release

Readout of Secretary Carter's Meeting with Turkish Minister of Defense Fikri Işık

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Turkish Minister of Defense Fikri Işık today on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels, Belgium. They discussed a number of security issues and highlighted the close friendship between the two countries.

Secretary Carter reaffirmed the United States' and NATO's steadfast commitment to Turkey's security in the face of Russian aggression and a range of terrorist threats. He emphasized Turkey's important role in the Counter-ISIL Coalition, including Turkey's increased border security efforts, and the two leaders discussed their countries' cooperation on countering terrorism.

In addition, Secretary Carter thanked Minister Işık for Turkey's efforts to address irregular migration to Europe and its ongoing commitment to Afghanistan's security.