WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis welcomed
Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah of Qatar to the Pentagon today
to reaffirm the strategic security partnership between the United States and
Qatar, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said.
In a statement summarizing the meeting between the two
defense leaders, White said Mattis and the defense minister discussed mutual
security interests, including the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria, support for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and improvements to Al
Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar.
Gratitude for Support
In welcoming remarks before the meeting, Mattis thanked his
counterpart for Qatar’s long-standing support of America's commitment to
regional security, including information sharing and counterterrorism efforts.
“Your nation’s continued generous hospitality in Al Udeid
Air Base helps to maintain this commitment to credibility by providing a home
for the U.S. Combined Air Operations Center and headquarters for U.S. Central
Command Forward,” he said.
The base, Mattis noted, provides crucial support for the
fight against ISIS and the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
“We must continue to work together to ensure a secure and
stable Middle East, as we confront terrorist threats and counter the spread of
Iran's malign influence around the region,” Mattis said. “So today I look
forward to reinforcing a lasting U.S.-Qatar security relationship -- one that
will continue to bolster our efforts against our common security threats.”
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