Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Ben Wallace, the UK’s Secretary of State for Protection, to the Pentagon in the present day to debate the short-term and long-term implications of the U.S.-U.Ok. alliance.
America has no nearer ally than the UK, Austin mentioned in the beginning of the assembly, and it’s seemingly unattainable for the 2 nations to work much more intently collectively. But Austin sees the Australia, United Kingdom, United States trilateral safety pact as a long-term means ahead and one of the best ways to strengthen ties among the many nations.
“It’s an historic alternative that exhibits how sturdy we will change into after we work collectively,” the secretary mentioned. “It exhibits our deep dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific. And it is a testomony to our shared values, and to the long-term investments that we’re making in our forces. I am assured that AUKUS will break down obstacles and usher in a brand new period of U.S.-U.Ok. protection cooperation.”
However the two nations additionally should take care of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and what that risk means globally and for Europe. “The Kremlin has chosen a path of aggression and atrocity for the Ukrainian folks and Ukraine’s navy [has] responded with unimaginable braveness,” Austin mentioned. “And I’ll carry on saying it: We are going to assist Ukraine on this battle for so long as it takes.”
Austin thanked Wallace for the UK’s management function in supplying Ukraine and coaching Ukrainian troops to defend their nation. “The UK is working with allies and companions to encourage donations and facilitate the supply of safety help to Ukraine,” he mentioned.
America and United Kingdom are additionally leaders within the NATO alliance. The secretary mentioned this can be a historic time for NATO. “Finland lately grew to become the thirty first member of NATO. And we stay up for Sweden changing into the thirty second,” he added.
Austin leaves tomorrow for Stockholm to specific his assist for that transfer.
Wallace seconded Austin’s sturdy assist for Sweden’s NATO membership and thanked the secretary for America’s management. He famous he’s coming into his fourth yr in his workplace. “The world, sadly, has not received much less anxious and fewer insecure,” Wallace mentioned. “The truth is, with the invasion of Ukraine, we have seen a extra anxious world and a extra unstable world. With out U.S. management, we might be in a worse place, whether or not that’s within the Pacific, whether or not that’s in Ukraine, whether or not that’s in European protection, or certainly worrying so the event within the Center East round Iran.”
American assist to Ukraine has been vital to giving the Ukrainian navy the instruments and coaching it must defend “the freedoms that all of us battle for and consider in,” he mentioned.
Wallace agreed that the AUKUS partnership is an indication of the long-term partnership and friendship between the 2 nations. He mentioned neither man can be in workplace when the primary AUKUS submarine rolls off the manufacturing line within the late 2030s. Nonetheless, it “exhibits that may be a long-term dedication” to share these secrets and techniques and capabilities among the many three nations.