Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles

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

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in London today on the margins of the AUKUS Defense Ministers Meeting.

Following the successful Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in August in Annapolis, Maryland, the two officials reviewed progress to strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance. They affirmed their commitment to further deepen bilateral defense cooperation across a range of Alliance initiatives, including on force posture, defense industrial base integration, and advanced capabilities. They shared perspectives on the global security environment and underscored the importance of advancing defense cooperation with regional partners and allies to support their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.