Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his eleventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region today after a series of engagements with counterparts and senior officials in Japan and the Philippines.
During his trip, Secretary Austin met in Tokyo with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko for the 2024 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee — or "2+2" — meeting. Following the 2+2 meeting, the four officials announced steps to modernize Alliance roles, missions, and capabilities; expand defense industry cooperation; and enhance alignment with allies and partners. The four ministers also convened a ministerial meeting on Extended Deterrence.
While in Tokyo, Secretary Austin, Minister Kihara, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik held the first Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM) to take place in either Japan or the ROK. They signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework to further institutionalize their three countries' security partnership.
In addition to holding bilateral meetings with Minister Kihara and Minister Shin, Secretary Austin joined Secretary Blinken for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. The three officials highlighted the momentum by the United States and Japan following Prime Minister Kishida's April 2024 State Visit.
After arriving in Manila, Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to underscore the strength of the U.S.-Philippines Alliance, reaffirm U.S. support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights, and discuss ways to work more closely with like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken then joined their Philippine counterparts — Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo — for the fourth U.S.-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue – the first ever held in Manila. The four officials discussed opportunities to strengthen regional peace, stability, and prosperity amid shared challenges. In a separate bilateral meeting with Secretary Teodoro, Secretary Austin welcomed announcements from the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on Foreign Military Financing for the Philippines and concluded a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap.
During his final day in the Philippines, Secretary Austin visited Subic Bay where he toured several defense industrial sites to underscore opportunities for defense industrial cooperation by the United States, Philippines, and other regional allies.
Secretary Austin's eleventh trip to the Indo-Pacific came as the Department of Defense continues efforts toward a shared regional vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
On August 6th, Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken will host their Australian counterparts — Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong — in Annapolis, Maryland for AUSMIN 2024 consultations.
