WEBVTT 00:00.790 --> 00:01.670 - Okay, how about now? 00:01.670 --> 00:02.503 Are we okay? 00:04.980 --> 00:06.880 We're probably gonna have to go with this, 00:06.880 --> 00:09.960 for those of you who can, because I need to go off 00:09.960 --> 00:13.670 and actually work for a living here too, in a few minutes, 00:13.670 --> 00:17.010 as we continue some other meetings here. 00:17.010 --> 00:18.690 As you know, we have just concluded 00:18.690 --> 00:20.470 our NATO Defense Ministerial, 00:21.340 --> 00:26.250 where I'm very confident that we have delivered progress 00:26.250 --> 00:29.640 on key alliance deliverables for our Heads of State Summit 00:29.640 --> 00:32.270 that goes next month here in Brussels. 00:32.270 --> 00:35.690 This outcome will ensure the alliance is fit to fight, 00:35.690 --> 00:39.280 I believe, the outcome being what we delivered here, 00:39.280 --> 00:41.400 and the discussions we had here. 00:41.400 --> 00:43.710 And thus, we'll be better able to deter those 00:43.710 --> 00:45.770 who would attack our Democracies, 00:45.770 --> 00:49.650 whether with terrorism, conventional, or hybrid methods. 00:49.650 --> 00:52.750 Threats to our collective security have not waned, 00:52.750 --> 00:55.960 whether terrorism to the south or Russia's aggression, 00:55.960 --> 00:58.400 and hybrid threats to the east. 00:58.400 --> 01:00.570 In response, we have discussed everything 01:00.570 --> 01:03.140 from burden sharing, an area where the alliance 01:03.140 --> 01:05.770 had made significant progress during the last year, 01:05.770 --> 01:10.360 I must note, to various other issues on our agenda. 01:10.360 --> 01:12.510 On the burden sharing, in 2014, 01:12.510 --> 01:15.440 it was a watershed year in NATO, 01:15.440 --> 01:18.140 when only three nations' military spending 01:18.140 --> 01:20.450 was at 2% of GDP, and generally, 01:20.450 --> 01:25.320 we were on downward trends with our defense allocations 01:25.320 --> 01:27.130 in the Democracies. 01:27.130 --> 01:31.800 By 2017, all nations had reversed the downward trend. 01:31.800 --> 01:35.430 100% had reversed the downward trend by last year, 01:35.430 --> 01:36.860 in defense spending. 01:36.860 --> 01:41.170 And last year, we also saw the largest across-NATO increase 01:41.170 --> 01:44.980 in military spending in a quarter century. 01:44.980 --> 01:47.430 Now in 2018, eight nations 01:47.430 --> 01:50.810 are already meeting the 2% pledge benchmark, 01:50.810 --> 01:53.830 and I salute the 15 allies who are on track 01:53.830 --> 01:57.780 to reach 2% by 2024. 01:57.780 --> 02:00.520 And Portugal, I think, just added to that. 02:00.520 --> 02:02.670 So actually, we may be one higher. 02:03.680 --> 02:06.250 Many allies are making investments beyond 02:06.250 --> 02:08.510 the monetary aspect of the Wales Pledge, 02:08.510 --> 02:12.030 answering Secretary General Stoltenberg's call 02:12.030 --> 02:13.150 to provide, and I quote, 02:13.150 --> 02:17.740 your cash and capabilities and contributions, unquote. 02:17.740 --> 02:20.480 I appreciate the troops and the leadership 02:20.480 --> 02:23.980 these nations provide to support NATO's Kosovo, 02:23.980 --> 02:28.410 Afghanistan, forward presence, and other missions. 02:28.410 --> 02:30.890 With Secretary Jens Stoltenberg's capable leadership, 02:30.890 --> 02:33.270 we also continue to improve the speed 02:33.270 --> 02:36.020 of the political decision-making, 02:36.020 --> 02:39.090 coupled, the building the NATO's military readiness, 02:39.090 --> 02:42.220 speed of alliance, consultation, and decision-making, 02:42.220 --> 02:44.390 are a credible deterrent to any 02:44.390 --> 02:46.140 who would threaten our Democracies. 02:47.030 --> 02:49.770 We engaged also, our European Union partners, 02:49.770 --> 02:51.480 on security cooperation. 02:52.320 --> 02:56.560 Specifically, we drilled-down on military mobility. 02:56.560 --> 02:58.920 In our defense cooperation with the EU, 02:58.920 --> 03:02.550 NATO recognizes effective deterrents and defense 03:02.550 --> 03:06.000 depend on a transparent dialog between us. 03:06.000 --> 03:08.570 We must demonstrate the political will among us 03:08.570 --> 03:10.630 to advance our security priorities. 03:11.580 --> 03:14.630 We also recognize that uncoordinated investments 03:14.630 --> 03:18.380 that waste resources or duplicate alliance efforts 03:18.380 --> 03:21.800 undercut our collective deterrence and defense posture. 03:21.800 --> 03:24.440 So we found further areas for cooperation 03:24.440 --> 03:27.280 and alignment of our two organizations. 03:28.190 --> 03:30.830 In the global fight against ISIS, we will continue 03:30.830 --> 03:33.370 to carry out operations necessary 03:33.370 --> 03:37.570 to crush the physical Caliphate and prevent a resurgence 03:37.570 --> 03:39.830 of ISIS Daesh. 03:39.830 --> 03:41.880 We will be unrelenting in our effort, 03:41.880 --> 03:44.290 working together with like-minded nations. 03:44.290 --> 03:46.330 We will target ISIS around the world, 03:46.330 --> 03:48.460 for this remains a global fight. 03:49.360 --> 03:52.440 To support these efforts, NATO is transitioning 03:52.440 --> 03:54.790 its current activity in Iraq, 03:54.790 --> 03:57.450 into a sustainable training mission. 03:57.450 --> 03:59.670 In concert with the new Iraqi government, 03:59.670 --> 04:02.600 we will capitalize on Iraq's success, 04:02.600 --> 04:06.330 and reinforce their long-term counter-terrorism efforts. 04:06.330 --> 04:09.610 We cannot allow ISIS or any other terrorist group 04:09.610 --> 04:12.060 to terrorize the people of this region, 04:12.060 --> 04:14.230 again driving thousands of refugees 04:14.230 --> 04:16.960 from their homes and into Europe and elsewhere. 04:17.960 --> 04:20.540 On our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, 04:20.540 --> 04:24.070 NATO's steadfast commitment and the implementation 04:24.070 --> 04:26.030 of our South Asia strategy, 04:26.030 --> 04:28.550 have renewed stabilization efforts, 04:28.550 --> 04:31.500 now including additional significant development 04:31.500 --> 04:33.250 funding from India. 04:33.250 --> 04:35.740 Recently, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates 04:35.740 --> 04:37.690 have joined our ranks, 04:37.690 --> 04:41.310 bringing our coalition to a combined 41 nations 04:41.310 --> 04:44.820 for Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. 04:44.820 --> 04:47.400 I should also note that Afghan Security Forces 04:47.400 --> 04:49.160 continue to improve. 04:49.160 --> 04:53.450 All six Afghan corps. are deployed throughout the country, 04:53.450 --> 04:55.690 demonstrating Afghan resolve 04:55.690 --> 04:57.310 while the Afghan government pursues 04:57.310 --> 05:00.910 a stable and inclusive political order for its people, 05:00.910 --> 05:02.110 with NATO's support. 05:03.020 --> 05:05.290 The level of confidence today is sufficient 05:05.290 --> 05:08.730 for President Ghani to announce a temporary cease-fire 05:08.730 --> 05:12.330 for the end of Ramadan, offering the Taliban an opportunity 05:12.330 --> 05:14.250 to bring to an end this fighting, 05:14.250 --> 05:17.820 and providing the world a clear demonstration 05:17.820 --> 05:21.380 of his government and our alliance's commitment to peace 05:21.380 --> 05:25.010 and an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process. 05:26.670 --> 05:29.670 In summary, for nearly 70 years, the NATO alliance 05:29.670 --> 05:32.230 has served to uphold the values and the principles 05:32.230 --> 05:34.850 on which our Democracies were founded. 05:34.850 --> 05:37.960 The American people remain committed to this alliance, 05:37.960 --> 05:40.170 and we look forward to working together 05:40.170 --> 05:42.310 to sustain our core function, 05:42.310 --> 05:45.150 which is the collective defense of our people 05:45.150 --> 05:47.650 while fostering peace and security. 05:47.650 --> 05:51.020 So thank you, and may I take your questions. 05:51.020 --> 05:52.980 - So let's just keep our questions short, 05:52.980 --> 05:54.470 given the earlier delay. 05:54.470 --> 05:55.303 But, Teri? 05:59.250 --> 06:01.400 - Teri Schultz with Deutsche Welle and NPR. 06:02.410 --> 06:05.830 On the cooperation between the EU and NATO, 06:05.830 --> 06:08.690 you've now gotten your four 30's plan 06:08.690 --> 06:10.780 endorsed by all the allies, 06:10.780 --> 06:14.470 but without real rapid advances in military mobility 06:14.470 --> 06:16.610 which requires heavy investment by the EU, 06:17.690 --> 06:19.130 how credible is that plan, 06:19.130 --> 06:21.040 that you could actually move 30 battalions 06:21.040 --> 06:22.970 quickly across Europe with military mobility 06:22.970 --> 06:24.750 in the state that it is now? 06:24.750 --> 06:27.110 Do you trust that the EU 06:27.110 --> 06:29.620 will move fast enough on its infrastructure 06:29.620 --> 06:30.570 upgrades that are needed? 06:30.570 --> 06:31.403 Thanks very much. - Yeah. 06:31.403 --> 06:34.240 We could move our forces across Europe right now, today. 06:34.240 --> 06:35.940 You've all seen it done. 06:35.940 --> 06:38.750 You've seen certain peacetime constraints on them. 06:38.750 --> 06:42.690 Those probably would not exist in the event of a crisis. 06:43.540 --> 06:45.440 Obviously people, many of these 06:45.440 --> 06:50.240 are basically national requirements, customs requirements, 06:50.240 --> 06:51.420 that sort of thing. 06:51.420 --> 06:53.080 So we could do it right now. 06:53.080 --> 06:56.330 We're talking about setting up a process 06:56.330 --> 06:58.260 by which we make this the norm, 06:58.260 --> 07:01.800 rather than simply a response in a crisis situation. 07:01.800 --> 07:05.680 But the improved readiness of our forces 07:06.660 --> 07:09.170 is a real demonstration of political will. 07:09.170 --> 07:11.490 Fundamentally, it's a demonstration 07:11.490 --> 07:14.670 that we will stand with our fellow nations 07:14.670 --> 07:16.060 in the event they're threatened. 07:16.060 --> 07:18.220 And yes, it is credible. 07:18.220 --> 07:19.420 - Okay, Bob Burns, AP. 07:20.464 --> 07:22.714 - Mr. Secretary, Bob Burns, Associated Press. 07:23.750 --> 07:26.690 A question for you about President Ghani's cease-fire. 07:26.690 --> 07:29.130 Of course, it applies only to the Taliban. 07:29.980 --> 07:31.410 I'm wondering what you feel. 07:31.410 --> 07:33.330 Is there room to intensify? 07:33.330 --> 07:34.950 How much room is there to intensify 07:34.950 --> 07:39.440 the American counter-terrorism operations against ISIS-K? 07:39.440 --> 07:42.890 And how much of a threat do they still pose, ISIS-K? 07:43.960 --> 07:47.750 - Well the NATO campaign is in protection 07:47.750 --> 07:49.250 of the Afghan people, 07:49.250 --> 07:54.250 as we move toward a political solution. 07:54.680 --> 07:58.200 So you have, on the one hand, this very bold statement 07:58.200 --> 08:00.480 by President Ghani, reinforced 08:00.480 --> 08:02.460 by the Afghan Security Forces, 08:02.460 --> 08:05.920 that we're now in a position to continue the process 08:05.920 --> 08:08.660 that he started, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, 08:08.660 --> 08:10.250 back in February, 08:10.250 --> 08:12.360 where he offered an open door to the Taliban. 08:12.360 --> 08:14.880 Their response was, of course, 08:14.880 --> 08:18.570 to kick off their fighting season, in the months following. 08:18.570 --> 08:20.290 They have not made progress, 08:20.290 --> 08:22.600 and we're in a strong position. 08:22.600 --> 08:25.520 We support, completely, what he's doing, 08:25.520 --> 08:28.840 and obviously, those forces that would have been otherwise 08:28.840 --> 08:30.210 engaging the Taliban, 08:30.210 --> 08:33.910 so if the Taliban follow the offer of cease-fire, 08:33.910 --> 08:36.260 those forces are now in a stronger position 08:36.260 --> 08:37.880 to focus elsewhere. 08:37.880 --> 08:40.130 So there's a fair amount of capability then, 08:40.130 --> 08:41.530 that would be available, 08:41.530 --> 08:43.580 but we'll have to see how this turns out. 08:44.984 --> 08:48.080 This is going forward with all the challenges, 08:48.080 --> 08:49.820 going forward on a peace process 08:49.820 --> 08:51.710 in the midst of a war like this brings. 08:51.710 --> 08:53.710 So we'll see how it works out, 08:53.710 --> 08:55.655 and we'll keep you posted. 08:55.655 --> 08:57.733 - [Bob] So you are saying that there's more resources 08:57.733 --> 08:59.533 available to go against ISIS-K? 08:59.533 --> 09:01.750 Is that what you're saying? - Absolutely, there are. 09:01.750 --> 09:04.949 Just for example, should the Taliban take full advantage 09:04.949 --> 09:07.200 of the cease-fire in the best interests 09:07.200 --> 09:11.420 of the Afghan people, and many of the surveillance assets 09:11.420 --> 09:14.790 we have overhead could be reoriented to ISIS-K, 09:14.790 --> 09:17.390 to Al Qaeda, and other foreign terrorists 09:17.390 --> 09:19.830 who have no business being in Afghanistan 09:19.830 --> 09:20.780 in the first place. 09:21.620 --> 09:22.670 Thank you. 09:22.670 --> 09:24.120 - Mustafa Sarwar? 09:28.950 --> 09:30.620 - Secretary Mattis, thank you very much. 09:30.620 --> 09:34.460 I'm Mustafa Sarwar from Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty. 09:34.460 --> 09:38.708 You know that one of the major objectives 09:38.708 --> 09:41.760 of President Trump's Asia strategy 09:42.820 --> 09:46.190 was to weaken the Taliban in Afghanistan, 09:46.190 --> 09:50.010 but as some in Afghanistan argue 09:50.010 --> 09:54.620 that the strategy has not been able to turn the tide 09:54.620 --> 09:56.330 against the Taliban, 09:56.330 --> 10:01.330 as they have stepped-up their attacks across the country. 10:01.470 --> 10:03.530 Are you in agreement? 10:03.530 --> 10:07.160 And what's your assessment of this strategy now? 10:07.160 --> 10:08.430 - Yeah. - Thank you. 10:08.430 --> 10:10.320 - I think that one of the ways 10:10.320 --> 10:15.320 you can determine the efficacy of the strategy 10:15.920 --> 10:18.760 is that we have had other nations join, 10:18.760 --> 10:21.700 we have had other nations increase the number of troops 10:21.700 --> 10:23.180 that they are committing, 10:23.180 --> 10:26.850 we have had other nations contribute significant amounts 10:26.850 --> 10:28.500 of development funds. 10:28.500 --> 10:31.610 So what you're seeing are objective indicators 10:31.610 --> 10:33.240 of a subjective analysis, 10:33.240 --> 10:35.640 that the strategy is on the right track, 10:35.640 --> 10:38.460 by numerous other nations. 10:38.460 --> 10:42.070 They're in the region, but even more so from Europe, 10:42.070 --> 10:44.990 to elsewhere, out into the Pacific. 10:44.990 --> 10:47.540 So this is not a narrow view 10:47.540 --> 10:50.030 of that exactly improving further. 10:50.030 --> 10:53.600 You noted, and I know what you're driving at, you said 10:53.600 --> 10:55.020 they have kept up their attacks. 10:55.020 --> 10:58.660 In fact, they have been unable to keep up their attacks. 10:58.660 --> 11:01.650 The number of enemy-initiated attacks are down, 11:01.650 --> 11:04.700 which means more of the attacks are now initiated 11:04.700 --> 11:07.230 by the Afghan and NATO forces. 11:07.230 --> 11:09.580 That in itself is an indicator 11:09.580 --> 11:12.110 of the initiative is shifting to those 11:12.110 --> 11:14.190 who are initiating the attacks. 11:14.190 --> 11:17.160 Further, the actual number of attacks this year 11:17.160 --> 11:18.710 are down from past years. 11:19.700 --> 11:23.350 That real challenge that you face in your job 11:23.350 --> 11:25.400 of trying to understand this, and I face 11:25.400 --> 11:28.110 in my job as well, is similar, 11:28.110 --> 11:31.750 and that is how do you equate progress 11:31.750 --> 11:35.070 and violence going on at the same time? 11:35.070 --> 11:37.550 And it is a very challenging 11:38.450 --> 11:41.490 intellectual effort to try and get your hands around it. 11:41.490 --> 11:44.130 You have to look at who initiates the attacks. 11:44.130 --> 11:46.340 Sometimes violence can actually indicate 11:46.340 --> 11:47.730 you're getting closer to peace. 11:47.730 --> 11:50.910 We've all seen that near the end of other conflicts, 11:50.910 --> 11:53.000 but at the same time, 11:53.000 --> 11:56.570 I think the strategy stands up to any kind of scrutiny 11:56.570 --> 11:58.640 as going in the right direction, 11:58.640 --> 12:01.660 and that's indicated by events there on the battlefield, 12:01.660 --> 12:05.470 and more broadly and right into the halls of Brussels, 12:05.470 --> 12:06.840 here where we've met. 12:07.980 --> 12:09.150 Thank you, Mustafa. 12:09.150 --> 12:10.060 - Sylvie, AFP. 12:12.783 --> 12:14.850 - Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 12:14.850 --> 12:16.350 I have a question about Syria. 12:17.520 --> 12:20.300 How long are you ready to stay in Syria, 12:20.300 --> 12:23.770 given the fact that Assad said several times 12:23.770 --> 12:26.660 that he wants to control the whole country, 12:26.660 --> 12:30.040 and that you could end up fighting the Syrian regime? 12:32.570 --> 12:34.560 - We are in Syria 12:34.560 --> 12:37.540 based on the conditions that are being set. 12:37.540 --> 12:41.080 As you know, a little over a hundred hours ago, 12:41.080 --> 12:45.250 our partner forces kicked off in an offensive 12:45.250 --> 12:47.980 against one of the last remaining enclaves 12:47.980 --> 12:50.110 of the physical Caliphate. 12:50.110 --> 12:52.570 So we are still engaged, ladies and gentlemen, 12:52.570 --> 12:57.180 in a fight against the ISIS Daesh Caliphate. 12:57.180 --> 13:00.480 It is not over yet, and that continues, 13:00.480 --> 13:02.810 so obviously we are going to continue, 13:02.810 --> 13:07.810 the UN mandate being that Daesh is a threat, 13:07.990 --> 13:10.900 then we are going to continue to go after them. 13:10.900 --> 13:13.640 Further, we are not simply going to think, 13:13.640 --> 13:16.320 well they're gone, so let's just walk away now. 13:16.320 --> 13:18.380 What you've got to do is support 13:18.380 --> 13:21.310 the local governing counsels, 13:21.310 --> 13:23.380 you've gotta support local security, 13:23.380 --> 13:26.000 so you don't walk out and have them walk right back in. 13:26.000 --> 13:27.880 I mean, this only makes common sense. 13:27.880 --> 13:30.740 This is not a radically new thought. 13:30.740 --> 13:33.100 At the same time, the diplomats are working 13:33.100 --> 13:37.460 under Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Special Envoy 13:37.460 --> 13:39.640 on Syria, they are working 13:39.640 --> 13:43.970 to reenergize the Geneva process, 13:43.970 --> 13:46.540 which is the way we're going to try to end this tragedy 13:46.540 --> 13:49.700 that's been going on ever since Assad declared war 13:49.700 --> 13:51.080 on his own people. 13:51.080 --> 13:53.460 So all of these factors have to be considered 13:53.460 --> 13:56.280 when you look at how long we will be there. 13:56.280 --> 14:00.730 - [Sylvie] And are you ready to fight the Syrian regime? 14:00.730 --> 14:03.980 - We are there under one circumstance right now, 14:03.980 --> 14:05.920 and that is to fight ISIS. 14:05.920 --> 14:07.470 We've made that very, very clear. 14:07.470 --> 14:08.370 - Thank you. 14:08.370 --> 14:09.870 Thank you all very, very much. 14:10.840 --> 14:12.220 - Let me just ask one quick, 14:12.220 --> 14:14.480 this young lady came all the way from Iraq, 14:14.480 --> 14:15.313 and I met her earlier. 14:15.313 --> 14:16.530 Go ahead, please. - Yes. 14:16.530 --> 14:17.580 - [Reporter] Thank you very much. 14:17.580 --> 14:21.220 My question, the U.S. Congress imposed a sanction 14:21.220 --> 14:23.599 on a few Iraqi militia groups 14:23.599 --> 14:25.580 belonging to Hashed al-Shaabi. 14:25.580 --> 14:29.420 One of them is Asaib Ahl al-Haq, 14:29.420 --> 14:33.300 which won 15 seat in the Iraqi Parliament 14:33.300 --> 14:35.120 in the last month's election. 14:35.120 --> 14:39.900 Now how the U.S. will deal with this group in Iraq? 14:40.970 --> 14:41.803 How? 14:41.803 --> 14:43.060 Thank you very much. 14:43.060 --> 14:45.990 - Ladies and gentlemen, in the election, 14:45.990 --> 14:50.030 could you imagine 2014, 14:50.030 --> 14:52.950 with what was going on as Daesh, as ISIS 14:54.190 --> 14:59.150 was toppling cities in Iraq, 14:59.150 --> 15:01.410 and taking over large parts of Iraq. 15:01.410 --> 15:03.640 Could you imagine those times 15:03.640 --> 15:06.520 that we would be now discussing the outcome 15:06.520 --> 15:09.260 of an election in Iraq? 15:09.260 --> 15:11.810 And the Iraqi Army has now removed 15:11.810 --> 15:14.400 the last of the physical Caliphate there, 15:14.400 --> 15:16.850 with great help from the coalition. 15:16.850 --> 15:18.860 And they were able to hold that election 15:18.860 --> 15:21.150 that came up, and all of us were watching it, 15:21.150 --> 15:23.750 because we didn't know how it was going to turn out. 15:23.750 --> 15:25.770 Welcome to Democracy. 15:25.770 --> 15:28.520 Perfect, imperfect, however you wanna call it. 15:28.520 --> 15:31.300 Welcome to a Democracy in action. 15:31.300 --> 15:34.460 We will deal with what the will of the Iraqi people, 15:34.460 --> 15:38.560 we will deal with those who come into the new government 15:38.560 --> 15:41.320 as it forms, and we will deal with them 15:41.320 --> 15:43.110 as a sovereign nation. 15:43.110 --> 15:45.120 And other nations, if they're not there 15:45.120 --> 15:47.940 at the invitation of the Iraqi people, 15:47.940 --> 15:50.150 the Iraqi government, they need to leave. 15:50.150 --> 15:52.540 We would only be there, we, the NATO mission, 15:52.540 --> 15:54.850 would only be there if invited 15:54.850 --> 15:56.610 by the Iraqi government. 15:56.610 --> 15:58.950 And so we'll have to give them some time 15:58.950 --> 16:00.360 to form the government, 16:00.360 --> 16:05.360 and then we will be able to determine our way ahead 16:05.400 --> 16:06.740 as an alliance. 16:06.740 --> 16:08.880 And I really have to go to a meeting now. 16:08.880 --> 16:11.380 I'd love to take a question from the Afghan press too, 16:11.380 --> 16:13.090 but I've gotta go to a meeting now. 16:13.090 --> 16:13.923 Thanks very much, 16:13.923 --> 16:15.380 ladies and gentlemen. - Thank you all very much.