U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement at the White House in Washington November 25, 2015. Reuters/Carlos Barria
(VOVworld) - President Barack Obama signed a sweeping defense policy bill into law Wednesday, legislation that authorizes 607 billion USD in defense spending and includes provisions that make it harder to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In a White House statement, Obama said the continued operation of this facility weakens US national security by draining resources, damaging its relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent extremists. He said it is imperative that the US take responsible steps to reduce the population at this facility to the greatest extent possible and ultimately close the facility. He expressed disappointment that Congress had "failed to enact meaningful reforms to divest unneeded force structure, reduce wasteful overhead, and modernize military healthcare."

The United States and Cuba will hold their biannual Migration Talks on November 30 at the U.S. State Department.