Turkish defense minister attends anti-ISIL meeting in Rome
ROME – Anadolu Agency
Turkey’s Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli on Feb. 13 attended a ministerial meeting in Rome of the global coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Welcomed by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and his Italian counterpart Roberta Pinotti, Canikli attended the meeting of defense ministers from the global coalition against ISIL in Villa Madame.
The meeting followed on from a similar meeting that began on Feb. 13 in Kuwait.
Ahead of a NATO defense ministers gathering in Brussels, the meeting invited 15 countries that show the biggest support for the coalition.
The anti-ISIL coalition was formed on Sept. 11, 2014 by 74 countries to fight the group.
Discussing the progress made against ISIL, participants at the meeting also exchanged views on the future activities of the coalition.
Following the nearly three-hour-long meeting, Canikli left Rome for Brussels, which will host the NATO defense ministers meeting starting on Feb. 14.
