SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Well, Minister Merino, thank you very much for being here. It's a pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to the Pentagon. I also want to welcome Ambassador Mayorga. Thank you so much for being here. And we all saw President Trump and your president, Bukele, had a very successful meeting at the White House on Monday.

I also had a chance to meet your chief of defense in Panama as well, an excellent gentleman. And what's clear to us on this side of the table, and I think to the cameras and to the world, is that our relationship with El Salvador is stronger than ever. And it's only just beginning. Our presidents have set the tone, have worked together very closely and we look forward to developing that even more with you as well.

What El Salvador has done in the last few years is nothing short of a miracle. Your country's victories over violent cartels and criminal enterprises, groups that terrorize your people and communities, is a model for all in our hemisphere. President Trump and I appreciate allies like El Salvador who punch – you punch above your weight, and we are grateful for your partnership.

We're also very impressed with your country's remarkable naval interdiction capabilities. I know you appreciate that especially. And we want to extend our thanks for detaining dangerous members of foreign terrorist organizations at the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador.

El Salvador has set a great example for strong bilateral cooperation, mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States, especially on that topic and many others. We want to stand strong with allies who stand with us and help deliver peace through strength, especially in our hemisphere.

I also want to recognize the many ways in which El Salvador has stood with America over the years, to include your own service in Iraq, as a company commander. I served there and a number of folks here at the table did as well in different capacities. So, thank you for being a part of that effort very directly. Also – he also spent some time at Fort Benning, so he's an experienced individual.

Like you, the United States wants our hemisphere to be secure, prosperous and sovereign. So, we look forward to our discussion today and we want to thank you, all of you, for joining us. We'll have – looking forward to a great conversation. Over to you.

MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: RENE FRANCIS MERINO MONROY: Yeah, thank you. Thank you, sir, and thank you, all of your staff, from me and my delegation. I'm honored to be here. As you said, we have a strong relationship right now and everything that you mentioned is because we have a good relationship and we want to improve that relationship, that's why I'm here, in order to share some experience with you and get some experience coming from you also.

So, it's an honor and I'm here for trying to get a better job along with you. I know you can cooperate with us in some areas like training or other things like that. And I hope that this period will be better for our countries.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: I very much look forward to that and appreciate it. Thank you, all.