2024-05-07 02:00:44
The Pentagon spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, provided the following release:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his trip to Honolulu, Hawaii today. During his visit, Secretary Austin met with counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines, the president of the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Command Change of Command, spoke with service members and spoke with distinguished guests from the Free Associated States.
Secretary Austin’s meetings on Thursday, May 2
Secretary Austin met bilaterally at Camp Smith with the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles to discuss the US-Australia Alliance. The two officials explored a range of areas where both countries are continuing unprecedented work to deepen their defense cooperation, including force posture initiatives, cooperation on the defense industrial base and partnerships across the Pacific Islands region.
Secretary Austin also met bilaterally at Camp Smith with Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru to advance historic momentum in the US-Japan Alliance. The two officials discussed continued efforts to implement agreements announced during Prime Minister Kishida’s official visit to Washington, as well as opportunities to further strengthen the Alliance by increasing cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners.
Secretary Austin, Deputy Prime Minister Marles, and Minister Kishida then a Trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting (TDMM)where the three officials highlighted remarkable trilateral achievements made in implementing a series of cooperative activities announced in June 2023 by the United States, Australia and Japan. The three officials signed a trilateral technology research and testing arrangement and also announced plans to carry out a regional activities. integrated air and missile defense live-fire exercise in 2027.
Secretary Austin, Deputy Prime Minister Marles, Minister Kishida, and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro then held the second ever meeting of defense ministers of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States. The officials highlighted significant cooperation between their four countries to advance a shared vision for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The officials then called the first ever joint press conference by the defense ministers of their four countries at Camp Smith.
Secretary Austin and Secretary Teodoro also met in Honolulu to discuss bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and the Philippines following President Marcos’ historic April 2024 visit to Washington and trilateral meetings with President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida.
Secretary Austin’s engagements on Friday, May 3
Secretary Austin presided over the USINDOPACOM Change of Command in Honolulu, where he delivered remarks recognizing outgoing Commander Admiral John Aquilino, incoming Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo, and the hundreds of thousands of US service members across USINDOPACOM’s Area of Responsibility.
On the verge of the change of command, Secretary Austin also spoke with leaders of the Free Associated States (FAS), including President Surangel Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau, President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia and Minister Kalani Kaneko of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Their meeting follows the historical part of the Compact of Free Association Amendment Act of 2024 in March, which funded a twenty-year extension of US economic assistance to the FAS under the Compacts.
Secretary Austin concluded his trip to Hawaii with a series of engagements with service members, where he thanked them and their families for their contributions to the safety and security of the American people.
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