US Department of Defense Chief Lloyd Austin will visit the Philippines to enhance security cooperation.
According to the US Defense Department, this trip is part of his twelfth official visit to regional allies.
Austin will first travel to Australia for multilateral meetings and engagements with US Marines before flying to Manila.
“Secretary Austin will first travel to Darwin, Australia for multilateral meetings with regional allies and engagements with U.S. Marines from the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. From there, Secretary Austin will make his fourth visit to the Philippines, where he will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with U.S. and Philippine forces,” the statement read.
After the Philippines, he will also visit Laos and Fiji.
“Secretary Austin’s trip comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security.”
