Photo By Sgt. Kimberly Browne | Col. Edward Bailey (left), deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Central, greets the Kuwait...... read more read more
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Twenty-seven years ago Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Republican Guard invaded Kuwait and occupied the state for seven months. Subsequently, the United States and a wide array of other Coalition Forces, the biggest collaboration of forces since World War II, deployed to the area to support Kuwait and its sovereignty.
Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah visited U.S. Army Central, Aug. 2, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to honor the 27th anniversary of the invasion of Kuwait.
Maj. Gen. Terrence McKenrick, deputy commanding general, USARCENT, and Col. Steve Berger, Area Support Group-Kuwait commander, escorted the minister on an aerial tour of Camp Arifjan before landing and receiving a briefing on ongoing operations.
“Minister of Defense Mohammad came to visit United States Soldiers at Camp Arifjan to express his appreciation for our commitment to the security of Kuwait and stability in the region,” McKenrick said. “USARCENT has a long standing relationship with Kuwait and their defense officials. This visit was also an opportunity for us to express our thanks to the Kuwait minister of defense for our partnership and for their hospitality.”
During their aerial tour of Camp Arifjan, the minister of defense expressed his thanks to both McKenrick and Berger on behalf of the Kuwaiti people for the United States’ continued support of the defense of Kuwait.
“We are welcoming the Kuwaiti minister of defense … to reinforce the strong partnership between the United States and Kuwait,” said Berger. “It is also especially an honor to spend a day with Kuwaiti military leadership on a day in which Kuwait honors those Soldiers and citizens who courageously defended their homeland 27 years ago.”
Not only was this visit a means to honor the liberation of Kuwait but also the continued collaboration of the United States and Kuwait. Continued collaboration is in both countries’ interests as well as in the interest of continued stability of the region. Moreover, this partnership enhances training capabilities, mutual responsibilities, and joint ventures.
“Our interaction and partnership training with our Kuwaiti counterparts continues to strengthen our interoperability and our professional understanding of each other,” Berger said. “This visit was a great opportunity to showcase what our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Civilians, and Contractors do on a daily basis. We have a professional force; a force that continuously makes us proud.”
During this meeting our key leaders took some time to discuss operational updates, partnerships, cost sharing and assistance for each nation.
“The visit allowed for us to share with senior Kuwait defense officials an update from Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve on the current status and way ahead for the fight to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria,” McKenrick said. “We also provided him with an update on our security cooperation engagements and exercises with Kuwait armed forces, where we focus on improving our interoperability and demonstrating our commitment to the defense of Kuwait.”
Throughout the engagement, all parties emphasized continued participation in combined exercises, exchanges, and symposia to raise professionalism and the training levels for all nations involved, ultimately enhancing our mutual capabilities and interoperability.
“Since liberating Kuwait, both the U.S. and Kuwait governments have enjoyed close and mutually beneficial relationship,” said David Docimo, deputy director of executive services, U.S. Army Central. “The minister’s remarks reaffirmed the State of Kuwait’s enduring support to U.S. Forces that have the privilege of being stationed here, and it’s reassuring to know that the alliance is as strong today as ever.”
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2017 02:32 |
| Story ID: | 244980 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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