Kerry Goes to London for Talks on Fighting 'Islamic State'

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, is traveling to London this week to participate in meetings and discussions with nearly 20 countries around the world, focusing on 'countering and defeating' the group known as the 'Islamic State.' Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, announced on January 18 that the one-day talks in London, scheduled for Thursday, will include discussions with about 20 countries, including Arab nations, on 'our joint efforts to weaken and overcome ISIS.' Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary, will also host these discussions and will have a separate meeting with Mr. Kerry. This meeting comes two weeks after the deadly attacks and hostage-taking in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket, which resulted in the deaths of 17 people and 3 suspects. One of the attackers had pledged allegiance to the 'Islamic State' in a video, while the Yemen branch of 'Al-Qaeda' claimed responsibility for the attacks involving two others. Prior to this planned meeting, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron held talks in Washington. They emphasized their 'firm stance' against extremist Islamists and their 'deviant ideology' in a joint statement, asserting that they would not allow freedom of expression to be trampled. According to a British official quoted by AFP, the London talks will focus on five main topics: foreign fighters, military campaigns against the 'Islamic State,' the group's funding sources, strategic communications, and humanitarian assistance. After the London meeting, John Kerry will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos. In this context, France is sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to combat the 'Islamic Caliphate,' and 27 suspects linked to the 'Islamic State' have been arrested in Europe. The U.S. is also starting a training program for moderate Syrian opposition forces.