Pompeo emphasizes importance of close US-European relationship

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosted Tuesday on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and 40 foreign ministers and senior officials from Europe and Canada at the 18th Transatlantic Dinner.
State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that Pompeo emphasized "the importance of the close U.S.-European relationship, which is indispensable to our shared security and the prosperity of more than one billion people between our two continents." Pompeo also highlighted "the importance of fair, free, and reciprocal trade relationships, European energy security, and continuing our work with NATO and the EU to strengthen European defense capabilities and increase European defense investments." The US top diplomat called for "the United States, Europe, and Canada to continue to work together to counter Russian aggression in all its forms, ensure the global defeat of (IS) and bring peace and stability to Iraq and Syria." "He also urged all nations to join our efforts to stop the Iranian regime's torrent of destructive activity around the world and to ensure the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK," the statement concluded.(end) si.tg