Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence John Healey

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday with his United Kingdom counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Both Secretaries reaffirmed their resolve to support Ukraine against Russia's unjustified and unprovoked war. They also agreed on the importance of deterring Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from further escalating the conflict in the Middle East. Secretary Austin congratulated Secretary Healey on the political agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius that protects the long-term, secure, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia.