Austin to attend security forum, visit Asian nations during weeklong trip that underscores tension in Indo-Pacific region
Staff, 2022-11-16 16:06:28,
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin boards an E-4B aircraft for Hawaii, Joint Base Andrews, Md., on March 13, 2021. (DOD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Canada and two Asian countries beginning this week on a trip intended to strengthen security and defense strategies with allies, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Austin will leave the United States for Nova Scotia on Friday to attend the Halifax International Security Forum. There, officials said he will work with Canadian partners to build a “more resilient security architecture” with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
Austin will deliver a keynote address at the forum.
During the trip, the defense secretary will also meet with Canadian defense minister Anita Anand to look for ways to bolster the U.S.-Canadian defense relationship, as well as the importance of “strategic defense investments.”
From there, Austin will travel to Jakarta in Indonesia to meet with government and military leaders.
“Secretary Austin’s visit will drive progress on key bilateral initiatives to support interoperability, capability development, and the…
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