Obama, British Prime Minister Reaffirm Security Commitment

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2013 – President Barack Obama met today with British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss shared peace in the Middle East, future roles in Afghanistan and other global security developments.

Speaking during a news conference at the White House, the president shared some of the global security issues the two leaders discussed.

“With regard to global security, we reviewed progress in Afghanistan, where our troops continue to serve with extraordinary courage alongside each other,” Obama said. “I want to commend David for his efforts to encourage greater dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is critical to a regional security.”

Obama noted that U.S., British and coalition forces will move into a planned support role in Afghanistan this spring, as Afghan forces take the lead for security across the country soon.

“Our troops will continue to come home, and the war will end by the end of next year, even as we work with our Afghan partners to make sure that Afghanistan is never again a haven for terrorists who would attack our nations,” he said.

The president said that due to the two nation’s “shared commitment” to Middle East peace, he updated the prime minister on Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s efforts with the Israelis and Palestinians, and the importance of moving toward negotiations.

“We reaffirmed our support for democratic transitions in the Middle East and North Africa, including the economic reforms that have to go along with political reforms,” Obama said.

“Of course we discussed Syria, and the appalling violence being inflicted on the Syrian people [as well],” he added.

The president said he and the prime minister also discussed Iran, where they agreed to keep up the pressure on Tehran for its continued failure to abide by its nuclear obligations.

The burden is on Iran to engage constructively with the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, Obama said, to resolve the world's concerns about its nuclear program.