Secretary Austin Strengthens Indo-Pacific Alliances During Regional Tour
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visited the Indo-Pacific for the twelfth time, stopping in Australia, the Philippines, Laos, and Fiji. He attended the Australia-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and met with regional leaders.
During his trip, Secretary Austin aimed to strengthen alliances and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Australia
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The U.S., Australia, and Japan are enhancing trilateral cooperation by:
- Integrating Japan into U.S. forces in Australia with annual trilateral training beginning in 2025.
- Opening major U.S.-Japan exercises to Australian participation.
- Improving integrated air and missile defense through live-fire events in exercises like TALISMAN SABRE.
The Philippines
The U.S. and the Philippines are modernizing their alliance by:
- Concluding a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) for sharing classified military data.
- Establishing a new Combined Coordination Center to enhance operational planning and response.
Laos
The U.S. is working with allies by:
- Announcing the second ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise for 2025 to promote maritime safety.
- Releasing the first U.S. Department of Defense Vision Statement for Southeast Asia to encourage cooperation with ASEAN.
Fiji
The U.S. and Fiji are building partnerships by:
- Launching negotiations for a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to enhance cooperation.
- Signing an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) to improve logistics cooperation.
- Committing $4.9 million in new security assistance for Fiji’s military modernization, pending approval.