Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's meeting with Canada's Minister of Defense Rob Nicholson

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout: Secretary Hagel met today in Peru with Canadian Minister of Defense Rob Nicholson. The two leaders were attending the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas. Secretary Hagel and Minister Nicholson discussed a wide range of security issues of mutual concern, to include the ongoing campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria and the security situations in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region. Secretary Hagel thanked Minister Nicholson for Canada's newly expanded missions in support of coalition operations against ISIL in Iraq, and both leaders expressed concern about the growing threat of foreign fighters inside ISIL. Secretary Hagel and Minister Nicholson also discussed regional security challenges in the Americas, to include the threat to stability and security posed by climate change. Both agreed on the need for comprehensive and multi-national approaches to environmental security. Finally, Secretary Hagel wished Minister Nicholson and his entire delegation his best wishes on this, Canada's Thanksgiving Day.