Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady participated in the U.S.-UK Defense Dialogue held in London, United Kingdom. They met with Permanent Under Secretary for Defence David Williams and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Dame Sharon Nesmith to discuss advancements in strategic partnerships, industrial base resilience, capabilities development, and current events, including Syria.

The dialogue included a focus on strategy, with discussions covering the UK Strategic Defense Review, cooperation on strategic readiness, and Russia's actions in Ukraine. Industrial base resilience was also a key topic, with reviews of the National Defense Industrial Strategy Implementation Plan and European defense initiatives.

Deputy Secretary Hicks emphasized that "collective security is made stronger when we promote the free flow of ideas, materiel, and systems across the Atlantic." She highlighted the importance of engaging international partners to enhance interoperability and industrial cooperation.

Further discussions addressed reducing barriers to collaboration within programs like AUKUS. Hicks noted that such initiatives "demonstrate an ability to effectively collaborate" and stressed their role in preserving international norms.

She thanked Permanent Secretary Williams for his contributions over four years toward strengthening U.S.-UK defense relations. The dialogue is held twice yearly to address strategic issues and innovation, with the previous meeting taking place at the Pentagon on June 5, 2024.