US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis would travel to the Middle East and Europe next week to re- affirm America's enduring commitment to strategic partnerships in the region, the Pentagon said today.
Mattis will begin his engagements in Jordan on August 21, meeting with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lieutenant General Mahmoud Freihat.
This would be Mattis' first trip to Jordan in his tenure.
"The Secretary will express US appreciation for Jordanian efforts to combat ISIS, and re-affirm US commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jordan in facing regional and global challenges," the Pentagon said.
He will visit Turkey on August 23 to meet with Minister of National Defence Nurettin Canikli, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut ?avusoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During the meetings, Mattis will emphasise the steadfast commitment of the US to Turkey as a NATO ally and strategic partner, seek to collaborate on efforts to advance regional stability, and look for ways to help Turkey address its legitimate security concerns including the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Pentagon said.
Mattis is scheduled to conclude his trip on August 24, with his first visit as Secretary of Defence to Kiev, Ukraine, wherein he will meet with Minister of Defence Stepan Poltorak and President Petro Poroshenko.
"During these engagements, the secretary will reassure our Ukrainian partners that the US remains firmly committed to the goal of restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as strengthening the strategic defence partnership between our two countries," the Pentagon added.
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