Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is in Laos for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). His visit began on November 19, preceding the 11th annual meeting where he will participate for the fourth time.
On November 20, Secretary Austin attended an informal meeting with ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, which is in the process of joining ASEAN. During this meeting, he introduced the first-ever U.S. Department of Defense Vision Statement aimed at ensuring a prosperous and secure Southeast Asia. He detailed U.S. initiatives to enhance the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership beyond 2025, including efforts to support sovereignty and domain awareness in Southeast Asian nations. Plans also include increasing joint exercises such as a second ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise, continuing defense fellowship programs, improving defense industrial capacity cooperation, and sharing expertise on climate change challenges.
In separate meetings on November 20, Secretary Austin engaged with officials from New Zealand, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. Discussions with New Zealand's Minister of Defence Judith Collins focused on shared goals for a free Indo-Pacific region and areas for increased cooperation in the Pacific Islands.
Meeting with Lao-PDR Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath included congratulating him on Laos's successful ASEAN chairmanship year. They emphasized expediting unexploded ordinance removal and ongoing recovery work by the Defense Personnel Accounting Agency.
Talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Tea Seiha reaffirmed commitments to building a productive defense relationship between the United States and Cambodia. Progress was noted on resuming military education programs and exchanges related to disaster assistance and peacekeeping.
With Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, discussions highlighted the importance of U.S.-Singapore relations for regional stability. They exchanged views on global security issues and explored multilateral cooperation opportunities.
Secretary Austin will attend the ADMM-Plus plenary meeting on November 21 and continue engagements with Indo-Pacific allies.
