An official website of the United States Government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

ECUADORIAN MINISTER

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates greets Ecuador's Defense Minister Javier Ponce Cevallos, left, at the Pentagon, Sept. 20, 2010.

The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.

Photos