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U.S., Italian Defense Leaders Discuss Shared Interests, Concerns for Ukraine > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted a visit by Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini today at the Pentagon. The two defense leaders discussed the U.S. and Italian defense relationship, mutual concerns over Russia’s actions in Ukraine and shared interests outside of Europe, such as operations in Africa. 

“Our meeting today underscores the importance of our transatlantic relationships to our shared unity and security,” Austin told Guerini. “That’s especially crucial as Ukraine continues to fight back against Russia’s unprovoked and unjust invasion … I want to thank you for everything that you’re doing to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s indefensible assault on its peaceful neighbor.” 

Austin also noted Italy’s contributions outside the scope of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, such as taking the lead on the NATO mission in Iraq in May 2022, and taking the helm of the Kosovo Force mission again this fall. 

“Your military’s presence in the Baltics, Romania, Iceland, Lebanon and in several countries in Africa, demonstrates again that Italy is one of Europe’s most reliable security providers,” Austin told the Italian defense leader. 

Guerini thanked Austin for leading the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which has met several times since its first meeting in April. 

“Let me express my gratitude for your leadership of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which contributes in a decisive way to supporting resistance in Ukraine, allowing a coordination between all contributing countries which would have been otherwise impossible,” Guerini said. 

The Italian defense leader said Italy has played an important role in helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty against Russia’s illegal invasion of their country. 

“So far we have already delivered three packages of equipment, including some of absolute relevance, and we will continue to do so in close synergy with allied countries, starting from the United States,” he said. 

The Italian military has expressed willingness to further contribute to NATO’s defense efforts. 

“In addition to what we are already doing, the Italian armed forces are ready to send further units in order to strengthen the defense of our allies on the eastern flank,” Guerini said. 

Italy is also committed to the southern flank of NATO defense, he said, noting that decisions made during the recent summit in Madrid ensured a stronger NATO commitment there. 

“NATO is even stronger after the Madrid Summit, where we have made important decisions such as 360-degree strategic flexibility. Within this framework, Italy welcomed and fully shared the confirmed centrality of the southern flank,” he said. 

It is on the southern flank, on the Mediterranean, Guerini said, where a recent photograph he and his staff had seen illustrated not only Italy’s commitment to NATO, but its partnership with the U.S. 

“We recently saw a picture of the U.S. and Italian naval groups with the carriers [USS Harry S.] Truman and [Italian aircraft carrier ITS] Cavour navigating side by side in the Mediterranean,” he said. “This image gives the image of our friendship better than any speech could do, and of the special relation between the United States and Italy, as well as underscoring the importance of the southern flank.” 

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DOD to Fund Better Detention Facilities in Syria, But Best Solution is Detainee Repatriation  > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

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The U.S. and partner nations continue with the “Defeat ISIS” mission in Syria, while the more than 10,000 ISIS fighters who have been detained within makeshift detention facilities there and the approximately 60,000 displaced persons at the al-Hol and al-Roj camps remain a challenge. The Defense Department has plans to address that challenge.

“The threat which we all know is that ISIS views the detention facilities where its fighters are housed as the population to reconstitute its army,” said Dana Stroul, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, during a conversation yesterday at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. “And [ISIS] looks at al-Hol and al-Roj, and the youth in those camps, as the next generation of ISIS.”

ISIS collapsed quickly, Stroul said, and there weren’t viable facilities to house all the captured ISIS fighters who were placed in makeshift detention facilities, such as in schools or office buildings.

The detention facilities, she said, are overpopulated, insecure and guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces, who are under significant pressure from multiple armed adversaries, a deteriorating economy that’s exacerbated by a historic drought, and a potential Turkish operation in northern Syria.

The Defense Department, she said, is working on three lines of effort to support the SDF in its efforts to provide for the humane and secure detention of ISIS fighters in its custody. First, she noted, is construction of new detention facilities.

“These new DOD-funded detention facilities will also help enable critical U.S. stabilization priorities, ensuring detainee access to medical care, providing youth detainees with distinct programming and facilities to address their safety and rehabilitation,” Stroul said.

The second effort, Stroul said, is growing and professionalizing the guard force responsible for securing those facilities.

Finally, Stroul said, DOD provides logistical support to State Department-led efforts to repatriate non-Syrian detainees to their home countries.

“On al-Hol, the Department continues to work with the SDF to disrupt ISIS activity and networks that threaten the camp’s residents as well as the broader population of northeast Syria,” Stroul said. “This support includes efforts to reinforce the camp’s physical security architecture, increase the number of security forces operating in and around the camp, and ensure that those forces are appropriately trained to the unique needs of that population.”

Such improvements, she said, enable greater access to the camps for non-governmental organizations, and allow the camp administration to provide services which have been hampered by the security conditions at the camp. 

“The most durable solution to the challenges of these detention centers and the displaced person camps is for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate and where appropriate, prosecute their nationals residing in northeast Syria,” Stroul said.

Iraqis comprise a majority of the foreign population in detention facilities and a majority of the entire population at al-Hol, Stroul said, and DOD continues to support State Department efforts to work with the SDF and the government of Iraq to accelerate the pace of Iraqi repatriation efforts.

“[We] commend the real progress that Iraq has demonstrated to date in repatriating its nationals, both detainees and displaced persons from northeast Syria,” she said. “Since May 2021, Iraq has repatriated approximately 2,400 individuals from al-Hol, with the most recent transfer occurring this past June.”

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Dutch, U.S. Defense Leaders Work to Strengthen Ties > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

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Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said they have never seen NATO more united than it is today. 

Ollongren and Austin met at the Pentagon today to discuss the next steps in opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a raft of other issues, including working together in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain the rules-based international order. 

In remarks at the start of the meeting, Austin praised the Netherlands for supporting Ukraine. “I want to personally thank you for everything that you’re doing to support the Ukrainian people as they defend their lives, their freedom and their democracy,” he said. “The Netherlands has heeded Ukraine’s calls for the offensive and lethal equipment— especially in high priority areas, such as artillery and coastal defense.” 

The Netherlands is also reinforcing and reassuring frontline NATO allies by sending forces to Lithuania, Slovakia and Romania, he said. The secretary also praised the Netherlands for the European Union’s efforts to sanction Russia’s energy sector. 

The United States and the Netherlands cooperate far beyond NATO. The two countries work together in the Middle East, Persian Gulf and Africa to counter the threats of terrorism, Austin said. “We work together in the Caribbean to counter drug smuggling,” he said. “And I know that the Netherlands is also committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” 

Ollongren thanked Austin for his leadership in the effort to supply Ukraine with the equipment it needs to repel Russia’s unprovoked invasion. “Our joint task is really to protect our important values and protect the freedom of the people,” she said. “I also want to say… that, as a true leader of the Department of Defense, you have also shown that you can stand up for women’s health.” 

The Netherlands will achieve spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense in 2024. The Dutch military is buying state of the art capabilities, including F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles. The defense minister noted that the United States and the Netherlands cooperate in high-tech defense in the cyber world and in space.  

Ollongen said the Netherlands recognized the United States as a nation in 1777. “Our relationship is based on common commitment, freedom and rights,” she said.  

She said the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which Austin leads. gathers allies and partners from around the world. “We have taken that support to a new level, pushing to do more and leading by example, and we stand ready to work with you and do everything we can to help you create and protect history,” she said. 

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