Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Meeting With Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles

On October 27, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles met on the margins of ADMM-Plus. The two leaders discussed ongoing initiatives to strengthen defense cooperation and the U.S.-Australia Alliance.

Secretary Hegseth and Deputy Prime Minister Marles agreed on the need to swiftly execute force posture collaboration, including investments at Australian air force bases and investments to enhance combined logistics capacity. The two leaders also discussed opportunities to better coordinate on U.S. and Australian approaches to regional deterrence and support common-sense strategies to preserve favorable a balance of power in the Pacific.

During the meeting, both principals noted the important ongoing work to advance the trilateral AUKUS security partnership, and efforts to co-produce critical munitions under the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.