Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper’s Meeting with Iraqi National Security Advisor Falih Al-Fayyad
Oct. 3, 2019

Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley met with Iraqi National Security Advisor Falih Al-Fayyad Tuesday at the Pentagon to reaffirm the strategic defense relationship between the United States and Iraq.

The leaders discussed mutual security concerns, including ongoing efforts to promote stability throughout the Middle East.

They discussed a broad range of defense issues including ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship. The secretary reaffirmed U.S respect for Iraqi sovereignty and expressed appreciation for Iraqi support for the security of U.S. personnel in Iraq.

Furthermore, Secretary Esper noted how the United States and Iraq are working together to defeat the common threat of ISIS and praised Iraqi security forces’ continuing operations to dismantle ISIS networks, prevent an ISIS resurgence, and bring greater security to the Iraqi people.