DefenceTalkUS Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Sunday that operations to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group were key to defeating the jihadist group. “This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat,” Carter said in a statement. “We are confident our Iraqi partners will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mosul-offensive-a-decisive-moment-in-anti-is-campaign-us-defense-secretary-68392/

DefenceTalkDefense ministers and other senior leaders of the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant coalition have agreed on next steps in the accelerated fight against the terrorist army in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today. Carter hosted the meeting, the third of its kind, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-defense-ministers-agree-on-next-steps-in-counter-isil-fight-67870/

DefenceTalkAs part of its role in the ongoing rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, the Defense Department is making new investments in the region and linking its bilateral relationships there to bilateral and trilateral arrangements, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today. The secretary is on a two-week trip to visit with leaders in India, the Philippines, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-dod-takes-next-step-in-sustaining-asia-pacific-rebalance-67270/

DefenceTalkUS forces will gain access to more military bases in the Philippines than the five already announced, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday as he began a visit to the longstanding Asian ally. Manila announced this year it would allow US forces to use five of its installations, including an air base close to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-forces-to-gain-access-to-more-philippine-bases-carter-67248/

DefenceTalkThe United States is facing five global strategic challenges, while at home sequestration poses a great risk to the funding of critical investments, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told lawmakers here today. “Today’s security environment is dramatically different from the last 25 years, requiring new ways of investing and operating,” Carter said at a hearing of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-outlines-security-challenges-warns-against-sequestration-67111/

DefenceTalkWashington: More US troops could “absolutely” be deployed to Syria if Washington identifies more “capable local forces” as partners in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in an interview aired Sunday. Carter’s comments to ABC News came about a week after the White House announced the deployment of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/more-us-troops-possible-in-syria-pentagon-chief-65781/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday that Washington’s pledge to defend the Pacific nation remains “ironclad” and called for an end to land reclamation in the South China Sea, officials said. In talks in Hawaii with Voltaire Gazmin, Philippine secretary of national defense, the Pentagon chief “reaffirmed” the strong ties […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-affirms-ironclad-promise-to-defend-philippines-64343/

DefenceTalkAshton Carter was confirmed as secretary defense Thursday, taking on the job of supervising the war against Islamic State jihadists in the final two years of Barack Obama’s presidency. Carter, 60, was approved in a 93-5 vote. An accomplished Pentagon veteran, he will replace Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. He had previously served as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ashton-carter-confirmed-as-us-secretary-of-defense-62937/