Washington, DC - On March 12 and 13 Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL John Allen and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk will meet with Italian and Vatican officials to discuss Coalition efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL, including countering ISIL’s financing, and stopping the flow of foreign fighters. They will also discuss international humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the violence in Iraq and Syria.

General Allen and Ambassador McGurk then travel to Ankara to meet with Turkish officials on Coalition efforts, expressing appreciation for Turkey’s ongoing Coalition contributions, including support for train and equip efforts for the moderate Syrian opposition. They will also recognize Turkey’s generosity in hosting over 1.6 million refugees from Syria and 130,000 refugees from Iraq.

From Turkey, General Allen and Ambassador McGurk will travel to Berlin for meetings with a number of Coalition partners on cooperation in support of Iraqi stabilization efforts. They will conclude their travel in Brussels, where they will brief NATO and European Union representatives on Coalition progress.