Mattis traveling to Jordan, Turkey, Ukraine next week

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is embarking on a trip to the Middle East and Europe on Saturday to “re-affirm the enduring U.S. commitment to strategic partnerships,” according to a statement from the Pentagon.

Mattis will meet with officials in Jordan on Sunday including King Abdullah II and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat to discuss the conflict against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It will be Mattis' first trip to Jordan as defense secretary.

On Wednesday, Mattis will visit Turkey to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of National Defense Nurettin Canikli and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Çavusoğlu.

"Secretary Mattis will emphasize the steadfast commitment of the United States to Turkey as a NATO ally and strategic partner, seek to collaborate on efforts to advance regional stability, and look for ways to help Turkey address its legitimate security concerns -- including the fight against the PKK," the Pentagon states.

Mattis' trip will conclude in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he will meet with President Petro Poroshenko and Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak. It will be Mattis' first to trip to Ukraine as defense secretary.

"During these engagements, the secretary will reassure our Ukrainian partners that the U.S. remains firmly committed to the goal of restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as strengthening the strategic defense partnership between our two countries," the Pentagon states.