Fox, Panetta Meet

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and U.K. Minister of Defense Liam Fox met for an hour Aug. 1 at the Pentagon to review "a range of regional and global issues of national security importance to both nations," according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Doug Wilson.

"Since taking office in July, Panetta has spoken twice to Fox by phone, but today's meeting marks the first time the two have met personally," Wilson said in a statement Monday evening. "Each stressed that the bilateral relationship was of critical strategic importance; Secretary Panetta reinforced the special relationship between the two nations and America's 'tremendous trust' in the United Kingdom. The two defense leaders shared views on budget challenges; political and military challenges in Libya; Afghanistan (including training of and transition to Afghan national security forces); Pakistan; Syria; Yemen; and Iran, focusing on Iranian involvement in rising violence in Iraq and the threat posed by Iran's potential to develop nuclear weapons. The two also focused on the future of NATO, non-proliferation and energy issues."