Turkish defense head attends anti-Daesh meeting in Rome

By Sinan Uslu

ROME

Turkey’s defense minister on Tuesday attended a ministerial meeting in Rome of the global coalition against the terrorist group Daesh.

Welcomed by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and his Italian counterpart Roberta Pinotti, Nurettin Canikli attended the meeting of defense ministers from the global coalition against Daesh in Villa Madame.

The meeting followed on from a similar meeting that began Tuesday in Kuwait.

Ahead of a NATO defense ministers gathering in Brussels, the meeting invited 15 countries that show the biggest support for the coalition.

The anti-Daesh coalition was formed on Sept. 11, 2014 by 74 countries to fight the terrorist group.

Discussing the progress made against Daesh, participants at the meeting also exchanged views on the future activities of the coalition.

Following the nearly three-hour long meeting, Canikli left Rome for Brussels, which will host the NATO defense ministers meeting starting Wednesday.