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Deputy Defense Secretary Meets With Dutch Defense Minister

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Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Dutch Defense Minister Secretary-General Wim Geerts at the Pentagon yesterday, according to a statement provided by Work’s spokesperson, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson.

A Dutch soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, 11th Airmobile Brigade scans his sector while conducting a town assault scenario during the Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany, June 17, 2016. The exercise is one of the premier military crisis response training events in the world for multinational airborne forces. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Dutch Defense Minister Secretary-General Wim Geerts at the Pentagon June 21, where the two leaders discussed mutual security issues. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Allen
A Dutch soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, 11th Airmobile Brigade scans his sector while conducting a town assault scenario during the Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany, June 17, 2016. The exercise is one of the premier military crisis response training events in the world for multinational airborne forces. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Dutch Defense Minister Secretary-General Wim Geerts at the Pentagon June 21, where the two leaders discussed mutual security issues. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Allen
A Dutch soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, 11th Airmobile Brigade scans his sector while conducting a town assault scenario during the Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany, June 17, 2016. The exercise is one of the premier military crisis response training events in the world for multinational airborne forces. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Dutch Defense Minister Secretary-General Wim Geerts at the Pentagon June 21, where the two leaders discussed mutual security issues. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Allen
SWIFT RESPONSE 16
A Dutch soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, 11th Airmobile Brigade scans his sector while conducting a town assault scenario during the Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany, June 17, 2016. The exercise is one of the premier military crisis response training events in the world for multinational airborne forces. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with Dutch Defense Minister Secretary-General Wim Geerts at the Pentagon June 21, where the two leaders discussed mutual security issues. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Allen
Photo By: U.S. Army
VIRIN: 160617-A-UR404-004

The two leaders discussed the strength of the U.S.-Dutch defense relationship, the security environment in Europe and the Middle East and comprehensive strategy and capabilities to degrade and destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Hillson said.

Work and Geerts also exchanged insights on sustaining robust military capabilities and noted the benefits of defense cooperation for both nations, she said.

“The deputy secretary thanked Geerts for the Netherlands' progress toward meeting the NATO target of two percent [gross domestic product] spending on defense and for the Dutch contribution to joint NATO deterrence efforts,” Hillson said.

The leaders agreed to continue an in-depth dialogue on defense issues, she said.‎

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