Deputy Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson provided the following:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work visited Belgium April 27-29 for meetings with NATO officials to discuss the Department's development of the Third Offset Strategy.
Work met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and ambassadors from the United States' 27 NATO allies to discuss the Third Offset Strategy. He also held a working lunch with NATO military representatives and staff to discuss operational concepts and NATO's involvement in the offset strategy.
Work delivered a speech hosted by the European Policy Center, an independent policy research organization, in which he emphasized the fact that developing innovative ideas and initiatives together with allied nations is essential to the pursuit of the Third Offset Strategy. He explained the need to coordinate and collaborate, leverage unique capabilities, and push our establishments to innovate in technology, operational concepts, demonstrations and wargames. His also discussed the progress of the campaign to defeat ISIL.
In a meeting with Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput, Work expressed his condolences to the Belgian people for those killed and injured in the March 22 terrorist attacks and thanked Belgium for its significant contributions to the counter-ISIL campaign.
Work also visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, where he thanked Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, departing Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and commander, U.S. European Command, for his distinguished service.
Prior to visiting Belgium, Work visited Sweden and participated in a U.S.-Nordic-Baltic meeting hosted by Swedish State Secretary Jan Salestrand.