Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III departs on an overseas trip Tuesday, November 30 to meet Republic of Korea senior government leaders and visit U.S. troops in Korea and California.
Secretary Austin will meet with ROK Minister of Defense Suh Wook for the 53rd U.S.-Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and visit U.S. troops on the peninsula. The annual Security Consultative Meeting has played a pivotal role in the development of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. The SCM continues to be a cornerstone venue to discuss and affirm national commitments. Both sides are expected to pledge to continue to develop the Alliance—the linchpin of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia—in a mutually reinforcing and future-oriented manner.
In California, Austin will deliver the keynote address at the 2021 Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley. RNDF offers the defense community a chance to come together to discuss and debate how the United States can lead the world in an era of increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. Austin will highlight his vision for the People’s Republic of China as the Department’s top pacing challenge, and discuss integrated deterrence, cooperation with allies and partners, the crucial role of investments in tech and innovation, and working with industry partners and Congress in the context of the forthcoming National Defense Strategy.