Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper met with Norwegian Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the strategic defense relationship between the United States and Norway.
The leaders discussed mutual security concerns, including Russia, China, and the security situation in the North Atlantic.
They addressed a broad range of defense issues, including equitable burden-sharing, the importance of readiness, and the trans-Atlantic relationship, and ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship. The secretary expressed appreciation for Norway hosting a rotational element of U.S. Marines for cold weather training and Norway’s contributions to international missions.