Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper embarks Wednesday, Nov. 13, to visit South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
In South Korea, Secretary Esper will attend the 51st U.S. – ROK Security Consultative Meeting where he will meet with his counterpart and other senior South Korean officials to discuss the Alliance and reaffirm our commitment to enhancing our bilateral defense cooperation to address issues of mutual importance to the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
Secretary Esper will visit Thailand next where he will participate in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). The ADMM-Plus is the most effective platform for practical cooperation among the participating countries’ defense establishments and the premier venue for senior leaders to discuss regional defense issues. While there, Secretary Esper will meet with key leaders to strengthen defense relationships and conduct meetings with senior officials.
In the Philippines, Secretary Esper will meet with his Philippine counterpart to advance the alliance as well as strengthen regional security cooperation to uphold international rules and norms. Secretary Esper will also lay a wreath and pay his respects to the fallen U.S. service members buried at the Manila American Cemetery.
In Vietnam, Secretary Esper will meet with his counterpart and other key leaders to discuss the regional security environment and ways to enhance the growing defense relationship.