Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is in Latin America this week to continue his bid to strengthen U.S. military ties with neighbors and persuade allies to upgrade their readiness, Reuters reported Wednesday.
David Alexander writes that Hagel is spending two days in Mexico City to meet with Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson, Mexican Secretary of National Defense Gen. Salvador Zepeda Cienfuegos and Mexican Naval Secretary Adm. Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz.
“The region is important to America,” Hagel told reporters ahead of the trilateral meeting.
“I don’t think over the years we’ve probably ever done enough to reach out to our Latin American partners,” he added.
Alexander reports the North American defense ministerial meeting’s topics will include the assessment of common threats and the creation of a secretariat office that would follow through on future trilateral sessions.
