Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in London on the sidelines of the AUKUS Defense Ministers Meeting, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
The meeting followed the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) held in August in Annapolis, Maryland. The officials reviewed progress in strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance and affirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral defense cooperation across various initiatives, including force posture, defense industrial base integration, and advanced capabilities.
They also shared perspectives on the global security environment and emphasized the importance of advancing defense cooperation with regional partners and allies to support a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
