(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday to discuss ongoing operations with anti-ISIL initiatives and opportunities to increase security operations.
Carter commended at a press conference the French commitment to the "fight to deliver a lasting defeat to ISIL, a campaign that we agreed requires a sustained and long-term effort." He cited the French "leadership" in the Sahel that is "preventing spillover of terrorism, trafficking and extremism, disrupting Al Qaeda affiliates, Boko Haram and other extremists in North and West Africa." "I think Minister Le Drian would agree this is the best our defense relationship has been in a very long time, probably ever," Carter asserted.
For his part, Le Drain noted that the deployment of French aircraft to the Gulf for anti-ISIL operations, "was testimony of this French commitment." "We are also fully committed in reassurance measures for our allies in Central and Eastern Europe, both with air force, navy and land forces," the French minister reaffirmed.
"In summary, I consider that our partnership, our mutual trust is essential if we want to face the security challenges of our time," he affirmed.
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