An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Jan. 6, 2022

Austin Looking Forward to Discussions With Japanese Counterpart

By David Vergun DOD NEWS

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, joined by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, will meet virtually with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo Jan. 6, for the 2022 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee ("2+2") Meeting.

ohn F. Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, held a news conference today to discuss this and other topics.

The 2+2 Meeting has long been a high-level forum for U.S.-Japan foreign and defense policy cooperation and the defense secretary looks forward to having productive discussions, Kirby said.

During the meeting, the delegations will discuss ways the United States and Japan can strengthen their alliance to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and other global challenges, he said.

Austin, who was diagnosed with COVID-19, Jan. 2, has mild symptoms but is in good spirits, Kirby said.

The defense secretary is working in isolation from home and is following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He's very much looking forward to returning to the Pentagon and traveling abroad to meet with allies and partners when he is cleared by his physician to do so, perhaps as early as the end of this week, Kirby added.

Regarding any possible future attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups on U.S. service members in the Middle East, Kirby said commanders have the right of inherent self-defense and have all of the necessary capabilities at their disposal. They have also prepared for defensive measures against rocket and drone attacks. "We're very mindful of the threat environment and it is very dynamic right now."

The Defense Department has service members in Iraq on an advise and assist mission in partnership with Iraqi security force partners, Kirby noted, adding that there are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and less than 1,000 in Syria.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,185
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 27, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford Concludes Visit to Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 27, 2024 - Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout...

DIU Partners With AUKUS Pillar II for International Prize Challenge
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 26, 2024 - The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is launching the first trilateral prize challenge through AUKUS Pillar II— a defense and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)— to...

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Winternitz Concludes Trip to Japan for Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 26, 2024 - Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout...

Marines, Sailors Participate in Holi Festival and Community Events at Tiger TRIUMPH
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Maxwell Gallahan, center left, a platoon commander assigned to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in musical chairs at a community relations event during Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH in Visakhapatnam, India, March 22, 2024. Tiger TRIUMPH is a U.S.-India tri-service amphibious exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness and interoperability. Tiger TRIUMPH enables U.S. and Indian Armed Forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to better achieve mutual regional security objectives. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna)
March 26, 2024 - Marines and Sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embraced India's culture during celebrations, athletic exchanges, and community relations engagements as they participate in Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024...