FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Carter Hosts Brunei Darussalam's Deputy Defense Minister
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2013 - Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter met at the Pentagon with Brunei Darussalam's deputy defense minister, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
In a statement summarizing the meeting, Little said Carter complimented Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat for Brunei's ongoing leadership during its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"The two leaders agreed that ASEAN continues to play a vital role in ensuring a spirit of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, which is essential to the promotion of shared security and prosperity," he said.
Carter congratulated Brunei on having recently concluded a historic multilateral exercise focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and military medicine, which the two leaders agreed demonstrates ASEAN's importance as a platform for regional nations to address shared security challenges, enhance interoperability and build trust, the press secretary said.
Carter and Dato Mustappa also discussed ways in which the United States and Brunei are deepening their bilateral relations, he added, and they talked about plans for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus ministerial conference in August, which Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will attend.
"Deputy Secretary Carter reiterated Secretary Hagel's offer to host all ASEAN defense ministers in the United States next year, and noted he looked forward to staying in close touch," Little said.
