Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates armed forces, have discussed the bilateral defense relationship between the two countries, DoD News reported Tuesday.
The two defense officials met at Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, UAE to discuss counterterrorism, instability in Iraq and Syria and Iran’s destabilizing efforts, according to the report.
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said the two leaders also overviewed shared objectives for the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, DoD News reports.
Carter also met with Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince ‎Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss the mutual security interests between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, according to another report by DoD News.
The defense secretary cited special operations and counterterrorism forces training, air and missile defense integration, cyber defense and maritime security as areas he says the U.S. and Saudi Arabia can enhance security cooperation, that second report says.
