Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III On Camera, On the Record Engagement With Traveling Press at Yokota Air Base, Japan

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN: Well, good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for being here. It's great to be back in Japan. This is my fourth trip here as Secretary of Defense, and what we've achieved together with Japan over the past four years has been historic.

Yesterday I met with Prime Minister Ishiba and Defense Minister Nakatani, and we took stock of how we're strengthening our alliance. It's also been great to spend time with some of our service members, who have been at the heart of this work.

You know, Secretary Blinken and I were here in July for our fourth annual 2+2 meeting with our Japanese counterparts, and we made several important announcements. First, we promised to take our defense industrial cooperation to the next level by launching the Forum on Defense Industry Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment. That forum has already convened several times and has taken several critical steps toward co-producing key munitions that will enhance our deterrence in the region.

Second, we vowed to advance our mil-to-mil cooperation with other like-minded partners. This includes the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. And today we're proud that we've taken exercises such as Freedom Edge and Yama Sakura to new heights.

Third, we announced that the United States will upgrade US Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities. At the time, I said that this marked one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years. I also said that our teams would work together to make sure that we get this right, and today I'm glad to report that they have hit the ground running.

I received a good briefing on the outstanding progress that we're making toward this upgrade. The working groups between Japan and the United States have met several times since the announcement, and they're ensuring that the development of US Forces Japan headquarters stays apace with Japan's new operational - Japan's new joint operations command.

We've charted a bold vision for upgrading our command and control frameworks and, together, the United States and Japan are making that a reality right now. Of course, our two countries have been delivering results and not just in the past four months, but throughout the past four years.

After becoming secretary in 2021, I took my first overseas trip to the Indo-Pacific, and it's no coincidence that my first foreign trip - my first foreign stop was here in Japan. And on that trip, I said something that I've repeated many times since, the US-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of our Indo-Pacific strategy and it's critical to a free and open region.

Now, that was certainly true in March of 2021, but it's even truer today. Over the past four years, we've made major upgrades to US force posture across Japan. We've made historic investments in our military strength and capability. We've doubled down on our defense industrial cooperation, and we worked more closely than ever with countries across this region that share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

So, I can say confidently that the US-Japan alliance is stronger today than ever. It's great to be back here to celebrate all that we've achieved together. And so, with that, I'll take a few questions.

PRESS SECRETARY MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Thank you, sir. Our first question will go to CBS. Ellee?

Q: Mr. Secretary on Syria, there are reports that Turkish backed forces are attacking the Syrian Democratic Forces, the US partner in the mission against ISIS. What assurances, if any, of support has the US given the SDF, and how does the SDF's new fight affect the defeat ISIS mission?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Well, thanks, Ellee. We continue to monitor the situation very closely. You heard me say the other day this is a very dynamic situation with a number of stakeholders that will continue to do a number of things in that space. You asked about force posture the last time we were together, and I didn't have any announcements to make then. I don't have any announcements to make today either.

We're going to remain in close contact with our partners in the region. And we're going to - as things occur, we're going to consult with them and ensure that we're doing the right things to protect our interests and respond to whatever the situation is that unfolds.

In the meantime, as you've heard me say, my number one priority is protect - protection of our troops, and we're also very much focused on making sure that ISIS doesn't have the ability to resurge. So, that'll be our focus going forward. And as things develop, we'll consult with allies and partners in the region and take the appropriate action.

Q: Any consultations with the SDF in recent days about what the US is willing to do about these new attacks?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: As you know, we've worked alongside the SDF for some time. Indeed, that work continues. So, again, we have a good relationship with them and I think it will remain.

MAJ. GEN. RYDER: [Off mic]

Q: Thank you. Thank you so much, sir. Taiwan's defense ministry in the last 24 hours has been reporting that China's deploying a large fleet of ships, I think balloons in close proximity, and possibly restricting its airspace. Have you been in contact with INDOPACOM leaders or Taiwanese counterparts on this? And is there any indication that China's trying to capitalize on the US's latest progress in the Indo-Pacific to further destabilize security in the region?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: You know, we have remained focused on the PRC's activity for quite some time. You know, that's why the PRC has been our pacing challenge for the last four years there. You know, we talked about their coercive actions in the region.

And certainly, this latest activity, this is something that we'll continue to monitor and make sure that, you know, we - that nobody does anything to change the status quo in the strait. Again, our policy hasn't changed. We'll continue to do what we can to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself. Again, that work continues on. But this latest activity, we'll continue to monitor it and see what happens.

Q: Thank you. And a quick follow up on Ellee's questions. What's your response to concerns that escalating conflicts around the Middle East could diminish or detract from US capabilities or capacity to deter China in the Indo-Pacific?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Again, this has been - this region has been our main effort throughout, and the PRC has been our pacing challenge. We have done a number of things globally to help partners and allies. We've helped Ukraine acquire the means to defend sovereign territory. We - we've helped Israel do what it has done to respond to the most brutal attack - terrorist attack that it has ever experienced, and also help them - provided them the means to counter the activity that they were - the attacks that they were receiving from Lebanon.

So, the combination of what we've done to help Ukraine defend itself and put more pressure on Russia to help Israel do what it's - what it's done has made Russia weaker and Iran weaker as well. And that has had an impact on what we've seen in the Middle East in Russia's and Iran's inability to respond to what's transpired in Syria.

MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Let's go to [Off mic]

Q: Thank you, sir. Japan has been a common denominator in terms of the multilateral security cooperation led by the United States, whether that be with Australia or whether that be with the Republic of Korea or Philippines. But Japan has been absent from the United Nations Command, which is a command - multi-national command headquartered in South Korea. So, do you think that there is a need for Japan to join the UNC as part of its official members, given this rising secure role in the region?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Well, the UNC has been a key element in maintaining security and stability on the peninsula. You know, I was fortunate to be able to attend a UNC defense ministers meeting last year. And again, our relationship with the ROK, Japan's relationship with the ROK, that trilateral relationship has really helped to increase the stability and security in the region.

Now, we're in a place now that we - we've never been. I mean, we've seen us conduct ministerials, trilateral ministerials. We've seen a trilateral summit conducted by President Biden. So, that relationship developed in a major way, and we're going to continue to build upon that going forward.

Q: Sir, INDOPACOM commander, Admiral Paparo, he said that North Korea will receive fire tests from Russia in return for North Korea sending troops to Russia to fight against the Ukrainian forces. And he talked about MiG-29s and SU-27s. So, other than fighter jets, are there any items that you can tell us, like, what North Korea will receive from Russia? And how are you concerned about the ongoing transactions between Russia and North Korea?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Well, I think that relationship is certainly concerning. We know that this is transactional. So, as the DPRK provides munitions and weapons to Russia, there will be - we expect that Russia will reciprocate in some shape, form, or fashion. And that can go in a number of ways. But I won't try to detail, you know, what they would get or may get in the future.

MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Last question for [Off mic] News.

Q: Service members here get a chance in a lifetime to be in Japan, learn new cultures and ways of doing things, and take that back to the States. This is one of the many benefits of serving. I never heard a veteran say they were sorry they served.

Will you continue to talk up the benefits of service when you step down? I saw you doing it unplanned at a few college commencements you delivered that I was with you on as you were walking from the podium to the vehicle, stopping to chat.

SECRETARY AUSTIN: You can bet that I will continue to talk about the benefit of service to our - to our nation. You know, I think in the military, you've heard me say before that, you

know, what we do is we take good people and we develop them into better people. And we provide them opportunities to expand their horizons and to, as you pointed out, to travel and to do a number of things.

So, service to the nation is important, and I think it provides the individual who serves a tremendous benefits. One of my mentors used to always say that to serve is to live, and I believe that. I believe in being a part of something bigger than yourself and giving back to this great country that has provided us so much.

And I'm absolutely proud of the young men and women that are serving in our ranks today. And, you know, they are the world's finest, in my view. And we will continue to provide them opportunities to travel and to grow and to develop as they raise their hand and volunteer to serve.

MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Thank you very much, everyone. That's all the time we have.

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