Defense Secretary Ash Carter today discussed the U.S.-Italian defense partnership, Libya and European security in his first meeting with Italy’s defense minister.
Carter and Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti are in Brussels to attend a NATO defense ministers conference.
A Reliable Ally
In a statement summarizing their meeting, Pentagon officials said Carter thanked Pinotti for Italy's leadership as a reliable ally in Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq, and for Italy’s contributions to air policing efforts in the Baltics.
Carter also thanked the defense minister for Italy serving as host to the 13,500 American service members and families, the statement said.
“The two leaders discussed the importance of their nations' close cooperation in bringing stability to Libya,” the statement said. “Secretary Carter also thanked Minister Pinotti for Italy's role in securing Europe's southern flank.”
Both leaders said they look forward to working together more in the future, officials added.