U.S., Yemeni Joint Staffs discuss security cooperation

November 13, 2009

On November 10, representatives of the U.S. Joint Staff concluded a round of talks with their Yemeni counterparts. The U.S. delegation was chaired by Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smith of the U.S. Armed Forces Joint Staff. The Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Ashwal, chaired the Yemeni delegation. The talks were frank and productive, and point toward continued U.S. assistance to the government of Yemen in its efforts to eliminate the threats to its population posed by al-Qaeda, piracy, and human trafficking.

At the conclusion of the talks and in accordance with standard protocol, the U.S. and Yemeni parties signed the minutes of the talks. Meeting minutes do not constitute an agreement.