WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 — Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik discussed a number of security issues and highlighted the close friendship between America and Turkey during a meeting in Brussels today, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement.
Carter is in Belgium’s capital city attending a NATO defense ministers conference.
The secretary reaffirmed the steadfast U.S. and NATO commitment to Turkey's security in the face of Russian aggression and a range of terrorist threats, Cook said.
Carter also emphasized Turkey's important role as a member of the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant coalition, including Turkey's increased border security efforts, Cook said.
The two leaders discussed their countries' cooperation on countering terrorism.
The secretary also thanked Isik for Turkey's efforts to address irregular migration to Europe and Turkey’s ongoing commitment to Afghanistan's security, Cook said.