So earlier today, ==
Secretary Austin spoke by phone with ##
Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler ##
to discuss Turkish activity ##
in proximity to U.S. forces in Syria. ##
The secretary reaffirmed that the United States remains in Syria exclusively ==
in support of the campaign to defeat ISIS. ##
The secretary also acknowledged Türkiye's legitimate ==
security concerns ==
and underscored the importance of close coordination ##
between the United States and Türkiye to ##
prevent any risks to U.S. forces ##
or the global coalition's Defeat ISIS mission. ##
Separate but related, the Department of Defense also condemns ==
the recent terrorist attack at the Turkish Interior Ministry ##
and we wish those injured ##
a speedy recovery. ##
We will post a readout of the call later today on the DOD website. ##
Separately, ==
Secretary Austin also spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today ==
to review priorities ##
for next week's NATO's Defense Ministerial in Brussels ==
scheduled for October eleven through twelve ##
The two leaders discussed a range of transatlantic security issues ==
focused on implementing Vilnius Summit deterrence and defense deliverables, ##
as well as ongoing NATO operations in the Balkans and Iraq. ##
A full readout of the call is available on defense.gov. ##
And looking ahead to next week, ==
Secretary Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Brown ==
will depart Washington on Tuesday for Brussels, Belgium, ##
where they'll host an in-person meeting ==
of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on October eleven ##
This will be the 16th meeting of the U.D.C.G. ==
since Secretary Austin formed the international coalition ##
in April 2022. ##
And following the Contact Group meetings ==
Secretary Austin will subsequently participate ==
in the NATO Defense Ministerial ##
at NATO headquarters.