Secretary of Defense Mark Esper departs Oct. 19 to reaffirm the enduring U.S. commitment to strategic partnerships in the Middle East and Europe.
Secretary Esper will meet with key U.S., regional and Ally leaders on a broad range of security issues, including regional stability, counter-ISIS fight, and the importance of key partnerships.
The trip includes multiple stops across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, before he attends the NATO Ministerial in Brussels. He will also meet with U.S. forces throughout his travels.
This is the secretary’s first trip to the Middle East as Secretary of Defense.