WASHINGTON -- Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Jamal Brown provided the following readout:

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl spoke with Australian Deputy Secretary of Defence for Strategy, Policy and Industry, Peter Tesch yesterday to reaffirm the strength and resilience of the U.S.-Australia Alliance – the Unbreakable Alliance.

Under Secretary Kahl and Deputy Secretary Tesch reinforced broad and diverse Alliance engagements, exercises, and investments.

Dr. Kahl and Mr. Tesch committed to continued defense capability development to ensure the Alliance is “match fit” for the complex security environment of today and tomorrow – essential to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, founded on existing international law and norms in a region free of malign behavior.

Under Secretary Kahl and Deputy Secretary Tesch highlighted upcoming Alliance milestones including, the Australia-U.S. Ministerial (AUSMIN) 2+2 meeting, and the 70th anniversary of the Unbreakable Alliance.