Paris: French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin met in Paris with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to discuss a raft of security and defense issues. The meeting marked the 82nd anniversary commemoration of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II.
According to Qatar News Agency, discussions focused on European security, reinforcing the European role within the NATO Alliance, supporting Ukraine, and defense industries, as stated by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs. The talks also addressed the situation in the Middle East, including the situation in Lebanon, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as matters related to the Indo-Pacific region.
In a statement, spokesperson for the US Department of War Sean Parnell said the two sides discussed the importance of NATO member states undertaking a greater role in defending the security of the European continent by increasing defense spending and strengthening defense industries. He added that both Vautrin and Hegseth underscored the importance of rapidly strengthening NATO capabilities and sharing burdens and responsibilities among its members to enhance its readiness to confront security challenges.