Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Saudi Arabia's defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, affirmed the importance of the defense relationship between their nations during a phone call today, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.
In a statement summarizing the call, Cook said they also discussed the security environment in the Middle East, including ways to work together to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism efforts.
Carter welcomed Saudi Arabia's contributions to the coalition campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Cook said, and the pair discussed ways to expand their cooperation.
The defense leaders agreed on the need to stay in close communication going forward, he added.