Category: Defense Secretary

Indo-Pacific Remains a Key Focus for Australia, US Alliance

The Indo-Pacific remains a key focus of the Australia-United States alliance, both Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin affirmed on Jan. 27. Reynolds and Austin spoke for the first time since the new defence secretary took office in January. Reynolds said the meeting was a “warm and productive” conversation between…


Senate Confirms Biden’s Pick for Pentagon Chief

The Senate has confirmed President Joe Biden’s pick for defense secretary, retired general Lloyd Austin, giving Biden his second Cabinet member two days after his inauguration. Austin was confirmed in a 93-2 vote on Friday, with Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voting nay. His ascent to the post of Pentagon head makes him the…