Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to visit Honolulu

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will visit Honolulu, United States of America, from 30 September to 1 October 2022.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend a Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Minister of Defense Hamada Yasukazu, to discuss continuing trilateral cooperation and enhancing interoperability.

This meeting follows the Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore in June 2022.

The Deputy Prime Minister will also hold bilateral discussions with Secretary Austin focusing on evolving the Australia-United States Alliance to ensure both partners are best positioned to contribute to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.

During his meeting with Minister Hamada, the Deputy Prime Minister will reaffirm Australia’s commitment to growing the defence partnership with Japan, which has experienced significant advancements this year—notably the signature of the Reciprocal Access Agreement in January.

The Deputy Prime Minister previously visited Japan in June on his first bilateral visit after assuming office, and the United States in July.

Quotes attributable to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Richard Marles MP:

“I look forward to seeing both Secretary Austin and Minister Hamada again after our meeting in Singapore in June, where we agreed on ambitious outcomes to drive our trilateral cooperation forward.”

“The current challenging strategic circumstances mean that alignment between our nations has never been stronger, or more important.”

“Australia and the United States will continue to work bilaterally, and with our regional and global partners, to ensure an inclusive, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

“I am committed to evolving the Australia-United States Alliance to respond to the tougher strategic environment.”

“We are working closely together to further strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership with Japan across the security, economic and people-to-people domains, and I look forward to seeing our partnership continue to grow.”

“Australia’s broad and deep defence partnership with Japan has seen significant achievements this year. We signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement; Australia supported Japan’s humanitarian and disaster relief response under Operation Tonga Assist; and just this month, Japanese aircraft participated in Exercise Pitch Black for the first time.”

“Our network of alliances and partnerships is a key strength in promoting our vision for an inclusive, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”