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Release
Immediate Release

Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on Upcoming Secretary of Defense Travel

Sept. 3, 2021

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following statement:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III departs on a trip Sunday, September 5, to visit Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Throughout his trip, Secretary Austin will meet with regional partners and thank them for their cooperation with the United States as we evacuated Americans, Afghans and citizens from other nations from  Afghanistan. He will reaffirm our strong defense relationships in the region. Secretary Austin will also meet with U.S. service members and U.S. government personnel to thank them for the skill and professionalism with which they conducted the evacuation.

Defense Secretary Austin Afghanistan Afghanistan Evacuation