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 with his United Kingdom counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Secretary Austin underscored U.S. determination to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict. The two leaders noted ongoing coordination between the United States and United Kingdom to protect both U.S. and UK personnel in the region and committed to continued close communication as the situation unfolds.