Readout of Secretary Hagel's Meeting With New Zealand Minister of Defense Gerry Brownlee

Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog provided the following readout: Secretary Hagel hosted New Zealand Minister of Defense Gerry Brownlee this afternoon at the Pentagon. During their meeting, Secretary Hagel praised the growth of the bilateral defense relationship and expressed appreciation for New Zealand's support for the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) coalition. They also talked extensively about the security situation in Afghanistan and the Resolute Support mission set to begin after the first of the year. The two secretaries reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and their nations continued partnership in the region.