Joint Press Conference by Secretary Carter and Secretary Michael Fallon > U.S. Department o... 6 of 14 https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/937142/joint-press-conference-... our U.K. military allies, as well as us, strong and on the cutting technological edge. And that's important because the British military is doing so much around the world on its own as part of NATO and with the United States, all three. It's increasing its personal -- excuse me -- personnel contributions to NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. We're grateful for that. It's also strengthening our collective deterrence against Russia, as well as leading in the NATO alliance not only by keeping its pledge to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, but also in the field. And it's making critical contributions to our military campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat. Secretary Fallon in particular has played a critical role in shaping that coming defeat. From my first conversations with him, we resolved to accelerate our coalition's military campaign. We set in motion a series of deliberate steps to gather momentum and put ISIL on a path to lasting defeat. And since then, thanks to the contributions and sacrifices of our local partners in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and service members from across this coalition, our campaign has accelerated, pressuring and squeezing ISIL, rolling it backwards towards Mosul in Iraq and Raqqah in Syria. This week's peacekeeping ministerial is another demonstration of the U.K.'s continuing global leadership role. I appreciate Britain's efforts to raise awareness and drive reforms and commitments to U.N. peacekeeping. And I look forward to discussing that further this evening when I join Prime Minister May, Secretary Fallon, and other defense ministers to begin this important summit. As I close, I want to thank Secretary Fallon once more for your friendship, your unwavering commitment to the cherished values that President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill committed our nations to defend more than seven decades ago. And we've been doing just that all this time and will for a long time to come. 21.02.23, 14:13