Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Defense Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi met today in Brussels to discuss their nations’ shared security challenges, including the effort to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a readout of the meeting.
Carter thanked the UAE minister for participating in yesterday’s meeting of counter-ISIL coalition defense ministers, Cook said.
The defense secretary also welcomed the UAE's willingness to rejoin the coalition air campaign and provide additional support on the ground, Cook added.
The secretary acknowledged the online efforts of the UAE-based Sawab Center to counter propaganda and reveal ISIL's true criminal nature and intent, and the work of the Forum for Peace in Muslim Societies to help religious scholars better connect with Muslim youth in the UAE and around the world, Cook said.
Carter and the minister agreed to continue the close communications between their countries, the press secretary said.