Statements

PHOTO: U.S. General Michael "Erik" Krill meets with Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Pakistan Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Aug. 20, 2022

Readout of U.S. Central Command Commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla's meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa

On Thursday, August 18, CENTCOM commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Pakistan Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan to discuss security issues of mutual interest.

Photo of U.S. General Erik Kurilla and United Arab Emirates Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, in Abu Dhabi.

Aug. 16, 2022

Readout of U.S. Central Command Commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla's Meeting With United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi

On August 15th, General Michael “Erik” Kurilla met with Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, in Abu Dhabi.

Kuwait Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Sheikh Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah meets the Commander of United States Central Command Michael Kurilla.

July 20, 2022

Statement from Gen. Erik Kurilla after meeting with Kuwaiti military leadership

Statement made by General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, following his meetings with Kuwait Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Sheikh Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah, his staff and subordinate commanders at the headquarters of the Kuwaiti Army General Staff in Kuwait City, Kuwait, July 19.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited Israel today to meet with Israeli Defense Force (IDF) leadership, to include the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt General Aviv Kohavi. “During my visit to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I met with Israeli Defense Forces leadership to discuss the importance of an integrated air and missile defense system, as well as the continued need for strong regional security cooperation. “As President Biden said earlier this week in Israel, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin echoed, the United States’ commitment to Israel remains ironclad. “Regional security remains paramount for both CENTCOM and the IDF.”

July 17, 2022

READOUT: U.S. CENTCOM Commander visited Israel today to meet with Israeli Defense Force (IDF) leadership

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited Israel today to meet with Israeli Defense Force (IDF) leadership, to include the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt General Aviv Kohavi.

General Kurilla with His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Oman Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, Muscat, Oman, June 19, 2022

June 19, 2022

READOUT: U.S. CENTCOM Commander meets with Omani leadership to discuss security cooperation on June 19th, 2022

MUSCAT, Oman — General Michael “Erik” Kurilla met with: His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs General Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Numani, Minister of the Royal Office Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Ali Al-Za’abi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Ra’eesi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces; and Other senior Omani leaders.

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – On June 15th and 16th, U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Erik Kurilla met with leadership from Tajikistan, including President Rahmon, Minister of Defense General Colonel Sherali Mirzo, and Chief of the General Staff General Lieutenant Emomali Sobirzoda.

June 17, 2022

READOUT: U.S. CENTCOM Commander meets with Tajikistan President, Defense Minister, and Chief of General Staff, June 17th, 2022

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — On June 15th and 16th, U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Erik Kurilla met with leadership from Tajikistan, including President Rahmon, Minister of Defense General Colonel Sherali Mirzo, and Chief of the General Staff General Lieutenant Emomali Sobirzoda.

On Tuesday, June 14th and Wednesday, June 15th, General Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central command, engaged with leaders from the Kyrgyz Republic, including: Foreign Policy Advisor Muratbek Azymbakiev; Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev; Minister of Defense General Lieutenant Baktybek Bekbolotov; and First Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel Taalaibek Usubaliev.

June 16, 2022

READOUT: Gen. Kurilla engages with leaders from the Kyrgyz Republic

TAMPA, Fla. — On Tuesday, June 14th and Wednesday, June 15th, General Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central command, engaged with leaders from the Kyrgyz Republic, including: Foreign Policy Advisor Muratbek Azymbakiev; Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev; Minister of Defense General Lieutenant Baktybek Bekbolotov; and First Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel Taalaibek Usubaliev.

Gen. Erik Kurilla meets with President Mirziyoyev, General-Lieutenant Makhmudov, General Lieutenant Qurbonov, General Major Kholmukhammedov, and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

June 14, 2022

Statement from Gen. Erik Kurilla after meeting with Uzbekistan Defense Officials

TAMPA, Fla. — Today, I had a great series of engagements here in Tashkent, with President Mirziyoyev, General-Lieutenant Makhmudov, General Lieutenant Qurbonov, General Major Khalmuhamedov, and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan. These were important, high-level discussions regarding the major topics of concern for both militaries.

June 13, 2022

READOUT: U.S. CENTCOM Commander meets with Kazakhstan's Defense Minister

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan — U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Erik Kurilla met with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Defense Ruslan Zhaksylykov June 11, 2022. The leaders discussed mutual security concerns and opportunities to expand defense cooperation in the Central Asian region.

TAMPA, Fla. May 30, 2022

U.S. Central Command Statement on Two Merchant Vessels Seized by IRGCN in the Arabian Gulf

On May 27 at approximately 3 p.m. local, two Greek-flagged merchant vessels were seized while transiting international waters in the Arabian Gulf. The vessels then were moved into Iranian territorial waters. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) has claimed responsibility. The IRGCN's actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability.