Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recently completed his thirteenth visit to the Indo-Pacific region, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The trip began in California, where Secretary Austin delivered the keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum. During his speech, he highlighted the administration's progress in renewing alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and enhancing U.S. force posture there.

This visit marked Secretary Austin's fourth official trip to Japan as Secretary of Defense. In Japan, he reviewed efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Japan Alliance and met with service members at various locations.

On December 9, Austin visited USS George Washington in Yokosuka, celebrating its arrival last month as it is the only permanently forward-deployed U.S. aircraft carrier globally.

The following day, December 10, he stopped at Yokota Air Base to meet United States Forces Japan (USFJ) Commander Lieutenant General Stephen Jost for a briefing on USFJ's transition to a Joint Force Headquarters. Later that day, he traveled to Yokohama and met soldiers from the U.S. Army's 5th Composite Watercraft Company—the first unit of its kind stationed outside the United States—and held discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen regarding Japan’s partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration.

On December 11, Austin observed Exercise Yama Sakura's 87th iteration at Camp Asaka alongside participating U.S., Japanese, and Australian forces. This exercise was notable for being the first one to include Australian participation after an announcement made during the Australia-Japan-U.S. Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting in November 2024.

Austin's visit comes amid ongoing efforts by the Department of Defense to work with allies and partners towards maintaining peace and stability in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.