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Carter Meets With Top Leaders in Saudi Arabia

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Defense Secretary Ash Carter met in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, today with King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince ‎and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Cook said the leaders affirmed the longtime security partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, discussing a range of issues pertaining to both nations' mutual security interests, including checking Iranian destabilizing activities in the region and countering violent extremism from groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Building on commitments made at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit hosted by President Barack Obama at Camp David in May, Carter spoke to a number of areas where the United States and Saudi Arabia can deepen their security cooperation for the benefit of both countries, Cook said. These include enhancing training for special operations and counterterrorism forces, integrating air and missile defense systems, bolstering cyber defenses and strengthening maritime security, he added.

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