Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide reaffirmed the defense relationship between their countries, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.
In a statement, Cook said the meeting took place on Carter's plane en route from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia, where the two defense leaders toured the visiting Norwegian ship Marjata IV and visited other naval facilities.
Increasing Security Challenges
“Secretary Carter and Minister Eriksen Soreide reaffirmed the very close working relationship that the United States and Norway share within NATO and discussed increasing security challenges along NATO's northern flank,” Cook said, noting that it was their third meeting.
Carter also thanked Eriksen Soreide for Norway's commitment to international security, including significant contributions to Afghanistan, the Baltic air policing mission and the campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the press secretary said. They also discussed yesterday's rollout of the first of Norway's 52 F-35 joint strike fighters purchased from the United States, he added.