Public opening remarks

Thank you so much, Secretary Esper. And it’s really a great pleasure for me to be able to host this meeting of the Global Coalition here at the NATO Headquarters today.

I want to begin by thanking you Secretary Esper for your leadership and the leadership of the United States.

ISIS’s self-proclaimed Caliphate is over.

It no longer controls any territory in Iraq or Syria.

And millions of people have been freed from oppression.

But the fight against ISIS is not over.

It remains a deadly threat to us all.

In the Middle East and around the world.

So we must remain vigilant and root it out wherever it may be.

Since the 9/11 attacks, NATO has been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism.

Not least in Afghanistan.

Our experience there has taught us the importance of training local forces.

Building local capacity to strengthen a countries’ resilience against terrorism.

This is what we are doing in Iraq.

Since January 2017, trainers from NATO Allies and partners have helped to strengthen Iraqi forces, so that ISIS can never return.

We are training the trainers.

And building military schools and academies.

Making Iraq’s security forces and institutions more sustainable, inclusive and effective.

But it is not only in Iraq that NATO is making a difference.

We are also building local capacity in countries such as Jordan and Tunisia.

And our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan provides training, advice, and assistance to the Afghan security forces.

To help them in their fight against terrorism. And to help ensure that the Caliphate that ISIS has lost in the Middle East will not be re-established in Afghanistan.

We will continue to coordinate our efforts with the European Union, the United Nations, Allies and partners to bring an end to the scourge of terrorism, wherever it may be.

That ends the public part of this meeting.  And it is my task to ask the media to leave.

Thank you.