Acting Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper welcomed Uzbekistan Defense Minister Bakhodir Kurbanov to the Pentagon to reaffirm the importance of the U.S. – Uzbekistan defense relationship, July 12, 2019.

Video by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jared Whitecar, DOD

Transcript

Acting Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper: Mr. Kurbanov, welcome to the Pentagon. It is a pleasure to host you on your first visit to the United States as minister of defense. Uzbekistan is a respected and valued partner, especially with regard to military operations in Afghanistan. We also work closely together on counterterrorism, border security and defense institution building.

Defense Minister Bakhodir Kurbanov: Dearest Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen. It is a big honor for me to be here in the United States with my official visit today. I would like to emphasize that today’s meeting between secretary of defense and the minister of defense of Uzbekistan is a new page in the history of cooperation between two countries. We have a five-year plan to cooperate with the minister of defense and the DOD of the United States, and I am certain that today’s meeting will allow us to continue moving forward and work closely in that regard.