(VOVWORLD) - The US Defense Department on Saturday announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit three nations in the Indo-Pacific region in his first foreign trip as Secretary of Defense.
Austin told reporters that the trip aims to strengthen the US’s alliances and partnerships as well as the capabilities and the operational plans and concepts with the alliances.
Some sources said his visit to Japan and South Korea will be from March 15 to 18, while there was no specific time for the visit to India.
In both Japan and South Korea, the Secretary of Defense will be accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken during meetings with government officials. When Austin leaves for India, Blinken will likely travel to Europe for talks with NATO Foreign Ministers.
Austin and Blinken trips take place after the first virtual summit of the US, India, Australia, and Japan on regional and global issues.