Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III conducted a call Dec. 20 with his French counterpart, Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastian Lecornu, to discuss the ongoing illegal attacks by Houthis on vessels in the vicinity of the Red Sea and the serious threat to global shipping and civilian lives.
Both leaders agree that the Red Sea is vital for global commerce, noting that the scale and increasing frequency of these attacks constitute a significant international problem that must be addressed. The United States and France are both making significant contributions to stability in the region and seek further collaboration on bilateral and multilateral solutions. Secretary Austin thanked France for its support to the 44-nation joint statement condemning the Houthis' illegal attacks on international shipping.