Attributable to Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn, USMC:
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Amanda Dory, will travel to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire December 1-4. She will begin her trip in Cotonou, Benin on Dec 2, where she will have an engagement with Minister of Defense Fortunet Nouatin, Minister of Finance Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Foreign Affairs Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, and Chief of Defense Staff Major General Fructueux Gbaguidi. Ms. Dory's visit underscores the strong bilateral relationship between the Department of Defense and the Benin's Ministry of Defense.
Ms. Dory will then travel to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on Dec 3 where she will engage with President Alassane Ouattara. Afterwards, she will have a separate meeting with Minister of Defense Téné Ouattara and other senior security officals to exchange views on regional security and discuss strengthening our bilateral defense relationship. Côte d'Ivoire is an important and critical partner in West Africa.
Ms. Dory's trip will allow the Department of Defense to engage African partners on issues of mutual concern, such as violent extremism and maritime security. The trip highlights the Department of Defense's enduring commitment to our partners in Coastal West Africa and the need to work together to address shared challenges and develop innovative approaches to ensure regional security and stability.
Additional information will be posted to "releases" when it becomes available.
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