WEBVTT 00:05.217 --> 00:06.050 - [Reporter] How are you? 00:06.050 --> 00:06.883 - I'm fine. 00:06.883 --> 00:08.664 Yesterday we agreed on the importance 00:08.664 --> 00:11.497 of a 360 degree NATO that protects 00:12.518 --> 00:15.972 our southern borders, as well as our eastern borders. 00:15.972 --> 00:19.469 Today the Counter-Daesh Coalition, including NATO members, 00:19.469 --> 00:23.122 will be reviewing plans to maintain the momentum 00:23.122 --> 00:25.622 of the campaign against Daesh, 00:25.928 --> 00:30.011 against the terrorist threat from Iraq and Syria. 00:30.735 --> 00:34.316 With operations about to begin in west Mosul, 00:34.316 --> 00:37.899 and the campaign to isolate Racca underway, 00:38.492 --> 00:40.850 Britain will continue to play a leading part 00:40.850 --> 00:44.267 in that campaign, providing intelligence, 00:44.538 --> 00:48.491 precision air strikes, and training where it is needed 00:48.491 --> 00:51.253 in order to deal Daesh a decisive blow. 00:51.253 --> 00:52.429 - [Reporter] To what extent are you already 00:52.429 --> 00:56.179 beginning to think about the post-Mosul Iraq? 00:56.366 --> 01:00.508 What might NATO need to do to help with stabilization, 01:00.508 --> 01:04.290 building the capacity of the Iraqi forces in the future? 01:04.290 --> 01:06.117 What might Britain's role be there? 01:06.117 --> 01:08.718 - Well, I was in Iraq last week, 01:08.718 --> 01:11.684 and it's clear to me that the military campaign 01:11.684 --> 01:13.680 is achieving significant success 01:13.680 --> 01:16.048 with the liberation of east Mosul, 01:16.048 --> 01:18.363 and last year some two million people 01:18.363 --> 01:22.305 now freed from Daesh rule, but it's not too soon 01:22.305 --> 01:25.886 to begin to think about the stabilization work, 01:25.886 --> 01:29.051 and the political reconciliation that is needed 01:29.051 --> 01:32.178 after the military campaign in order to ensure 01:32.178 --> 01:35.268 the Sunni populations, particularly in Nineveh 01:35.268 --> 01:38.185 and Anbar provinces, feel they have 01:38.800 --> 01:41.300 a proper stake in modern Iraq. 01:41.396 --> 01:43.713 So, we'll be reviewing that today, 01:43.713 --> 01:47.880 and seeing what contribution the coalition can make 01:49.363 --> 01:52.817 to that continuing work after the military campaign 01:52.817 --> 01:54.484 in Iraq is finished. 01:54.811 --> 01:56.598 - [Reporter] Is this going to be a significant test 01:56.598 --> 01:59.037 for the Alliance in the new Trump era? 01:59.037 --> 02:01.595 I mean, to be honest, the response within NATO 02:01.595 --> 02:03.868 to the small-scale trading operation 02:03.868 --> 02:05.574 that's already begun in Iraq has been 02:05.574 --> 02:08.781 a little disappointing some people tell me. 02:08.781 --> 02:11.865 There hasn't been huge enthusiasm in all quarters 02:11.865 --> 02:13.651 to participate and to stump up. 02:13.651 --> 02:17.026 Is the future of Iraq, the stabilization there, 02:17.026 --> 02:20.155 going to be the next big test for the Alliance? 02:20.155 --> 02:22.389 - Well, the NATO mission in Iraq has begun, 02:22.389 --> 02:25.243 and Britain has made it's contribution 02:25.243 --> 02:28.660 to that financially, and also in terms of 02:29.627 --> 02:31.460 resources and support. 02:31.909 --> 02:33.294 The President is right. 02:33.294 --> 02:35.531 The Alliance needs to be more agile 02:35.531 --> 02:38.500 at dealing with terrorism, as well as 02:38.500 --> 02:40.978 standing up to Russian aggression. 02:40.978 --> 02:43.864 So, we will be seeing now, we will be looking now 02:43.864 --> 02:46.626 at our plans to develop that mission, 02:46.626 --> 02:48.699 and ensure that we provide the long term 02:48.699 --> 02:51.136 stabilization that is needed to follow 02:51.136 --> 02:54.591 the military campaign so that we don't have to 02:54.591 --> 02:58.536 go back into Iraq and help all over again, alright. 02:58.536 --> 02:59.369 Thank you. 02:59.369 --> 03:00.624 - [Reporter] Thank you very much.