Hagel

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the defense relationship between the United States and Japan, the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, U.S. and partner-nation efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, and other issues during his question-and-answer interview with The Nikkei newspaper.

An article written from that interview was published on Nikkei’s website early today.

The text of the interview follows:

HONOLULU, April 3, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations crisscrossed the city yesterday in a motorcade of vans, buses and police cars, adding potential partners or capabilities that might expand humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the Asia-Pacific region at every stop.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2014 – During their meeting at the Pentagon today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Japanese National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi welcomed the establishment of Japan's National Security Council and discussed ways to deepen and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement issued today.

The text of Kirby’s statement follows:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif, Minister of Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz, and other senior Pakistani officials today in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog said in a statement issued today.

Woog’s statement reads as follows:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and several other U.S. Navy ships to the Republic of the Philippines today, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today praised the key role Belgium continues to play in supporting security efforts in several regions of the world, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

In a statement summarizing a Pentagon meeting between Hagel and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Pieter De Crem, Little noted that Belgium has pledged security assistance funding and agreed to train security forces in Afghanistan, supporting stability efforts post-2014.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2013 – In a Pentagon meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel commended Latvia for its steadfast participation in International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan and for the energy and perspective that Latvia and its Baltic counterparts have brought to NATO, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Little said Hagel and Pabriks reiterated their countries' commitment to supporting security and stability in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and United Arab Emirates' Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today spoke by phone and discussed regional security issues, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement issued today.

Little’s statement reads as follows:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Egyptian Minister of Defense Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi spoke by phone today and discussed regional security cooperation and other issues, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement issued today.

Little’s statement reads as follows:

Hagel said earlier this week that it is important to assure allies of U.S. commitment to those alliances as the United States faces ongoing budget issues and a government shutdown.

The secretary’s main purpose for visiting Tokyo is to take part, along with Secretary of State John F. Kerry and their Japanese counterparts, in “two-plus-two” consultations between U.S. and Japanese foreign and defense ministers.