IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Acting Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Charles E. Summers Jr. provided the following readout:
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defense Didier Reynders today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the United States and Belgium.
The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, including plans to meet NATO burden-sharing commitments. They agreed to continue cooperation on shared security challenges, including Russian activities on NATO’s eastern flank and threats posed by Chinese infiltration into the European technology base.
The secretary expressed his appreciation to Belgium for its acquisition of the F-35A as a vital demonstration of Belgium’s commitment to NATO and for its plans to increase defense spending.
Secretary Shanahan thanked Minister Reynders for Belgium’s pledge to increase support to the Resolute Support mission, sustained troop contributions to the NATO mission in Iraq and NATO enhanced forward presence, and enduring commitment to NATO’s nuclear-deterrence mission.
