LOC10:28
07:28 GMT
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon on Wednesday during which they highlighted "the importance of maintaining Allied unity and support for Ukraine during this critical time."
The Pentagon said in a statement that Austin thanked Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership of the NATO Alliance, especially throughout Russiaآ’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, Austin and Stoltenberg discussed the upcoming NATO Defense Ministerial and progress made on decisions taken at the 2022 Madrid Summit to advance NATOآ’s military adaptation to better address challenges posed by Russia as well as terrorism.
They also discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, where Alliance heads of state and government will take additional steps to strengthen NATOآ’s deterrence and defense.
Both reaffirmed their support for Finland and Swedenآ’s membership bid to join NATO before the Vilnius Summit, the statement noted. (end)
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