Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with Minister of National Defence Judith Collins of New Zealand. The two leaders discussed both countries' shared defense and security priorities in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring the strength of the U.S.-New Zealand partnership.
The two officials discussed the regional security environment, with a focus on the Pacific Islands region, and explored areas for further collaboration and security cooperation. They also spoke about New Zealand's development and implementation of its 2023 Defense Policy and Strategy Statement, the Future Force Design Principles, and the upcoming defense capabilities report. They welcomed the alignment of these strategic documents with the 2022 U.S. National Defense Strategy.
Secretary Austin reaffirmed U.S. support for New Zealand's steadfast leadership in the Pacific Islands region as evidence of its commitment to a shared regional vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.