Defense Ministers from the Coalition to Defeat ISIS met in Brussels, led by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, ahead of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting

Published: Thursday, 17 October 2024 14:10

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised the dedicated efforts of allied and partner countries in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, highlighting it as one of the most broadly supported and effective coalitions in action. During this pre-summit meeting ahead of the NATO Defense Ministerial, participants reviewed concrete steps for the partial U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and discussed NATO's continued role in training, advising, and supporting Iraqi institutions through the NMI mission.


The first day of the Ministerial centered on the conflict in Ukraine and the Alliance's commitment to implementing decisions from the Washington Summit. These topics were explored in depth at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, where allies and partner nations were joined by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who provided updates on the ground situation and outlined Ukraine’s needs as winter approaches.

An urgent call was made for military support for Ukraine, particularly in air defense and munitions, to shield critical infrastructure from Russian aggression. Allied nations presented a united stance, emphasizing their commitment to sustained support, solidarity, and cohesion with the Ukrainian people, as well as their steadfast backing of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration path.
During the session, Albania’s Defense Minister Pirro Vengu reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to support Ukraine alongside NATO allies in its pursuit of stability and security. Minister Vengu also announced plans for negotiations on a “Cooperation Agreement for Long-Term Security Support between Albania and Ukraine” and shared that Albania is prepared to offer training for Ukrainian military personnel.