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Immediate Release

Readout of Secretary Carter's meeting with Australian Minister for Defense Marise Payne

 Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:
 
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met today with Australian Minister for Defense Marise Payne on the margins of the C-ISIL Ministerial in Washington, D.C.
 
Secretary Carter and Minister Payne discussed a range of security issues during their meeting, including their mutual commitment to degrade and defeat ISIL and the importance of continued support to the Government of Afghanistan. Secretary Carter thanked Minister Payne for Australia's recent decision to broaden their training mission in Iraq to include Iraqi police. They also discussed the need for a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law.
 
The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Australia Force Posture Initiatives in Australia's Northern Territory to the alliance, and Secretary Carter congratulated Minister Payne on her recent election victory. Secretary Carter and Minister Payne said they are looking forward to the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations to be hosted by Australia later this year.