WEBVTT 00:02.519 --> 00:05.409 Well , good afternoon , everyone in 00:05.420 --> 00:07.940 March , the US S Annapolis submarine 00:07.949 --> 00:11.229 visited Australia today . We're very 00:11.239 --> 00:13.350 pleased to welcome our Aussie friends 00:13.350 --> 00:16.520 to Annapolis , to our colleagues , to 00:16.530 --> 00:18.641 our partners , to our friends from Mr 00:18.641 --> 00:20.641 Wong , Deputy Prime Minister Marles 00:20.641 --> 00:23.940 Penny Richard . Uh Thank you for an 00:23.950 --> 00:26.172 incredibly productive day . Uh We're so 00:26.172 --> 00:28.420 grateful , not only to have you here 00:28.430 --> 00:31.059 but to have had uh a really terrific 00:31.069 --> 00:34.080 session . The 34th Osman that's been 00:34.090 --> 00:36.060 held between our countries and of 00:36.069 --> 00:38.180 course , um I'm particularly grateful 00:38.180 --> 00:40.236 to my friend and partner , Secretary 00:40.236 --> 00:42.180 Austin , uh also to our hosts here 00:42.180 --> 00:44.450 including uh Vice Admiral Davids and 00:44.459 --> 00:46.515 the Naval Academy for the incredible 00:46.515 --> 00:49.369 hospitality today . Uh If um you'll 00:49.380 --> 00:51.547 forgive me before getting into what we 00:51.547 --> 00:53.769 discussed in , in Austin , I do want to 00:53.769 --> 00:55.991 say a few words about the Middle East . 00:55.991 --> 00:57.991 We continue to work intensely to de 00:57.991 --> 01:00.047 escalate tensions in the Middle East 01:00.047 --> 01:02.269 and to prevent the spread of conflict . 01:02.269 --> 01:04.436 Uh Over the past few days , we've been 01:04.436 --> 01:06.491 in constant contact with partners in 01:06.491 --> 01:09.589 the region and well beyond in those 01:09.599 --> 01:12.269 conversations , we've heard a clear 01:12.279 --> 01:16.269 consensus , no one should escalate this 01:16.279 --> 01:18.910 conflict . Uh We've been engaged in 01:18.919 --> 01:21.129 intense diplomacy with allies and 01:21.139 --> 01:23.699 partners . Uh communicating that 01:23.709 --> 01:26.150 message directly to Iran . We 01:26.160 --> 01:28.271 communicated that message directly to 01:28.271 --> 01:30.790 Israel . Our commitment to Israel's 01:30.800 --> 01:34.059 security is ironclad . We will continue 01:34.069 --> 01:36.180 to defend Israel against attacks from 01:36.180 --> 01:38.449 terrorist groups or their sponsors just 01:38.459 --> 01:40.737 as we'll continue to defend our troops . 01:40.879 --> 01:43.139 But everyone in the region should 01:43.150 --> 01:45.449 understand that further attacks only 01:45.459 --> 01:48.050 perpetuate conflict , 01:48.400 --> 01:51.660 instability , insecurity for everyone 01:52.529 --> 01:54.751 and further attacks only raise the risk 01:54.751 --> 01:57.500 of dangerous outcomes that no one can 01:57.510 --> 02:00.059 predict and no one can fully control . 02:01.190 --> 02:03.412 It's urgent that everyone in the region 02:03.412 --> 02:05.134 takes stock of the situation . 02:05.134 --> 02:07.246 Understand the risk of miscalculation 02:07.246 --> 02:09.134 and make decisions that will calm 02:09.134 --> 02:12.070 tensions , not exacerbate them . That's 02:12.080 --> 02:14.247 particularly true . Given the decisive 02:14.247 --> 02:16.358 moment that we're at in the ceasefire 02:16.358 --> 02:18.789 negotiations in Gaza . Uh President 02:18.800 --> 02:20.967 Biden spoke today to President Al Sisi 02:20.967 --> 02:23.970 of Egypt and to Amir Tamin of Qatar . 02:25.179 --> 02:27.179 Uh These are the two countries that 02:27.179 --> 02:29.012 along with the United States are 02:29.012 --> 02:31.235 mediating negotiations to reach a cease 02:31.235 --> 02:33.346 fire to get the release of hostages . 02:33.346 --> 02:35.068 As the leaders discussed , the 02:35.068 --> 02:37.509 negotiations have now reached a final 02:37.520 --> 02:40.589 stage and they agreed on the urgency of 02:40.600 --> 02:42.820 bringing this process to closure , 02:43.899 --> 02:46.660 concluding that agreement and avoiding 02:46.669 --> 02:49.919 any action that could somehow disrupt . 02:49.929 --> 02:51.818 It is the only path to ending the 02:51.818 --> 02:54.160 conflict in Gaza and bringing calm to 02:54.169 --> 02:56.279 the region . It's critical that all 02:56.289 --> 02:58.400 parties work to finalize an agreement 02:58.400 --> 03:01.910 as soon as possible . Now from day one 03:01.919 --> 03:04.030 of this administration , we have been 03:04.030 --> 03:06.330 laser focused on realizing a shared 03:06.339 --> 03:09.720 vision for a free and open Indo Pacific . 03:11.059 --> 03:13.115 I just got back from my 18th trip to 03:13.115 --> 03:15.337 the region . Uh in this , in this job , 03:15.337 --> 03:17.589 uh a big part of that trip was with 03:17.600 --> 03:20.250 Secretary Austin . Uh we did two plus 03:20.259 --> 03:22.370 twos with uh the Philippines and with 03:22.370 --> 03:24.880 Japan . Um I was at ASEAN with Foreign 03:24.889 --> 03:27.000 Minister Wong . We were together also 03:27.000 --> 03:30.100 for the quad meetings in Japan at the 03:30.110 --> 03:32.649 heart of our work in the Indo Pacific 03:32.660 --> 03:35.600 is our alliance with Australia today . 03:36.149 --> 03:39.139 Yet another step forward in deepening , 03:39.539 --> 03:42.830 strengthening that alliance , President 03:42.839 --> 03:45.061 Biden has called it an anchor for peace 03:45.061 --> 03:47.172 and prosperity in the New Pacific and 03:47.172 --> 03:50.410 around the world . It's enduring more 03:50.419 --> 03:53.610 than 70 years and our country is 03:53.619 --> 03:56.050 working together have made our people a 03:56.059 --> 03:58.130 little bit more free , more secure , 03:58.500 --> 04:00.929 more prosperous . But just over the 04:00.940 --> 04:04.009 past 3.5 years , I believe we've made 04:04.020 --> 04:06.020 the relationship stronger than it's 04:06.020 --> 04:08.187 ever been . We've enhanced our defense 04:08.187 --> 04:10.353 co-operation including expanded marine 04:10.353 --> 04:12.860 rotations through Darwin . We created a 04:13.070 --> 04:16.010 with the UK to bolster regional and 04:16.019 --> 04:18.809 global security to turbocharge our 04:18.829 --> 04:21.459 defense industrial base . We have the 04:21.468 --> 04:23.635 first cohort of Australian workers who 04:23.635 --> 04:25.468 just arrived in Pearl Harbor for 04:25.468 --> 04:27.468 training and maintenance on nuclear 04:27.468 --> 04:29.760 powered submarines . And we continue to 04:29.769 --> 04:31.825 broaden the scope of our partnership 04:31.825 --> 04:33.991 from collaboration on advanced A I and 04:33.991 --> 04:36.320 quantum to combating disinformation . 04:38.250 --> 04:41.630 When Prime Minister Albanese and uh 04:41.640 --> 04:43.696 President Biden were last together , 04:44.179 --> 04:47.820 they talked about and agreed on plans 04:48.109 --> 04:50.369 to really advance what we call an 04:50.380 --> 04:52.959 innovation alliance . They inaugurated 04:52.970 --> 04:55.137 this during the state visit in October 04:55.137 --> 04:57.369 and they continue and we continue to 04:57.380 --> 04:59.609 elevate science , technology and clean 04:59.619 --> 05:02.089 energy collaboration as a fundamental 05:02.100 --> 05:03.989 part of the work that we're doing 05:03.989 --> 05:06.156 together through our critical minerals 05:06.156 --> 05:08.378 task force . We're strengthening supply 05:08.378 --> 05:07.750 chains for components that are 05:07.760 --> 05:09.989 essential to electric vehicles , to 05:10.000 --> 05:12.480 batteries , to solar panels . Many of 05:12.489 --> 05:14.711 the things that will be at the heart of 05:14.711 --> 05:16.767 the 21st century economy and they're 05:16.767 --> 05:18.711 also critical to combating climate 05:18.711 --> 05:20.933 change . Over the past just 2.5 years , 05:21.420 --> 05:23.309 the US has invested more than $5 05:23.320 --> 05:25.320 billion in Australia for critical 05:25.329 --> 05:28.209 minerals . Yesterday , we also 05:28.220 --> 05:30.442 announced a partnership using satellite 05:30.442 --> 05:32.276 imagery to better manage natural 05:32.276 --> 05:34.498 resources and to help us tackle climate 05:34.498 --> 05:37.510 change throughout Austin . We also 05:37.519 --> 05:40.160 discuss threats to our shared vision of 05:40.170 --> 05:42.281 a free and open Indo Pacific a region 05:42.281 --> 05:44.448 that's stable , that's peaceful . It's 05:44.448 --> 05:46.489 prosperous where sovereignty and 05:46.500 --> 05:48.540 international law respected , where 05:48.549 --> 05:50.882 human rights are promoted and protected . 05:51.230 --> 05:52.952 We agreed on the importance of 05:52.952 --> 05:55.119 maintaining peace and stability in the 05:55.119 --> 05:57.286 South China Seas , the East China seas 05:57.286 --> 05:59.619 and countering any attempts at coercion . 05:59.750 --> 06:01.806 We're united on the need to maintain 06:01.806 --> 06:03.917 peace and stability across the Taiwan 06:03.917 --> 06:06.028 Strait and to resist any actions that 06:06.028 --> 06:08.350 escalate tensions or undermine the 06:08.359 --> 06:12.019 status quo . We're also committed to 06:12.500 --> 06:14.670 deepening , strengthening the 06:14.679 --> 06:17.079 architecture that upholds the shared 06:17.089 --> 06:20.070 vision for the region and working more 06:20.079 --> 06:22.190 and more with other allies with other 06:22.190 --> 06:24.500 partners to advance the shared vision 06:24.510 --> 06:26.677 that we have . Uh we've been enhancing 06:26.677 --> 06:28.399 our cooper with Pacific Island 06:28.399 --> 06:30.454 countries we're taking of course the 06:30.454 --> 06:32.621 next steps on August . We're advancing 06:32.621 --> 06:34.566 an affirmative agenda for the Quad 06:34.566 --> 06:36.779 where Penny and I were just uh engaged 06:36.790 --> 06:39.429 a few days ago , we reaffirmed the 06:39.440 --> 06:41.496 importance also of bridging the Indo 06:41.496 --> 06:43.510 Pacific and the transatlantic uh 06:43.519 --> 06:47.089 theaters . Um Very grateful that 06:47.100 --> 06:48.989 Australia is the largest non NATO 06:48.989 --> 06:50.767 military contributor to Ukraine 06:50.767 --> 06:52.878 providing air defense capabilities to 06:52.878 --> 06:54.933 helping train Ukrainian personnel in 06:54.933 --> 06:58.480 the United Kingdom . Fundamentally , we 06:58.489 --> 07:00.711 agree with Prime Minister Albanese that 07:00.711 --> 07:02.933 as he put it , ours is in alliance with 07:02.940 --> 07:04.859 a bright future because it's an 07:04.869 --> 07:08.700 alliance for a better future . Uh Lloyd 07:08.709 --> 07:10.820 and I are both incredibly grateful to 07:10.820 --> 07:13.089 Penny and Richard for their partnership 07:13.549 --> 07:15.700 and for their friendship . Penny . 07:17.220 --> 07:19.579 Thank you very much . Uh Can I first 07:19.589 --> 07:23.200 thank Secretary Lincoln , uh Tony and 07:23.209 --> 07:26.779 Secretary Austin Lloyd for hosting uh 07:26.790 --> 07:30.079 Richard and I uh at this remarkable 07:30.089 --> 07:32.311 facility on these beautiful grounds and 07:32.311 --> 07:34.533 we really appreciate the opportunity to 07:34.533 --> 07:37.519 be here if I may 1st start uh with uh 07:37.540 --> 07:41.109 uh just to uh to reiterate 07:41.670 --> 07:44.440 uh and uh articulate Australia's 07:44.450 --> 07:46.672 support for what Secretary Lincoln just 07:46.672 --> 07:48.783 said in relation to the Middle East . 07:48.783 --> 07:51.950 We uh uh again uh endorse what he has 07:51.959 --> 07:55.480 said , urging all to , to deescalates 07:56.250 --> 07:58.350 uh and like him , Australia also 07:58.359 --> 08:00.303 underlines the risks to all in the 08:00.303 --> 08:02.859 region of escalation and of 08:02.869 --> 08:06.109 miscalculation . Uh uh uh 08:06.440 --> 08:08.273 Secretary Blinken said this is a 08:08.273 --> 08:10.384 decisive moment in terms of ceasefire 08:10.384 --> 08:13.510 and we continue to add our voice uh to 08:13.519 --> 08:15.779 the support for the ceasefire uh 08:15.890 --> 08:18.119 outlined by President Biden and 08:18.130 --> 08:21.640 endorsed by the Security Council . Uh 08:21.649 --> 08:24.470 This is uh our third Ausmin together . 08:25.260 --> 08:29.239 Uh And uh uh they have all been uh 08:29.299 --> 08:32.880 uh really uh warm open , 08:33.380 --> 08:36.080 uh trusting engagements in this one 08:36.090 --> 08:38.340 particularly . So it's been an 08:38.349 --> 08:40.710 opportunity uh in this meeting to 08:40.719 --> 08:43.549 continue strengthening our alliance , 08:43.559 --> 08:46.150 deepening our alliance because what we 08:46.159 --> 08:49.429 want is an alliance that is always fit 08:49.440 --> 08:51.662 for the strategic circumstances that we 08:51.662 --> 08:53.630 face , which as you all know , are 08:53.640 --> 08:55.751 increasingly complex and increasingly 08:55.751 --> 08:58.580 challenging . So I thank all of my 08:58.590 --> 09:00.312 colleagues for the transparent 09:00.312 --> 09:02.640 constructive discussion we have had on 09:02.650 --> 09:05.239 so many substantial issues and the 09:05.250 --> 09:08.770 quality of that discussion uh as 09:08.780 --> 09:12.200 Secretary Lincoln's uh comments 09:12.210 --> 09:13.932 demonstrate . And as the joint 09:13.932 --> 09:16.154 statement makes clear , we have covered 09:16.154 --> 09:18.359 a lot of ground uh foremost in our 09:18.369 --> 09:21.049 discussion is how we work together uh 09:21.059 --> 09:23.059 to assure the character of the Indo 09:23.210 --> 09:26.200 Pacific , uh an Indo Pacific that is 09:26.210 --> 09:29.739 peaceful , open and prosperous uh 09:30.280 --> 09:32.169 and working together on what that 09:32.169 --> 09:34.880 requires from all of us to step up our 09:34.890 --> 09:37.112 delivery in the region , to step up our 09:37.112 --> 09:39.334 collaboration with others in the region 09:39.500 --> 09:41.859 to work across shared priorities . As 09:41.869 --> 09:44.130 we have been over these last years on 09:44.140 --> 09:46.419 everything from infrastructure to 09:46.429 --> 09:48.762 sustainable development , to cyberspace , 09:48.762 --> 09:51.400 to and connectivity to health and of 09:51.409 --> 09:54.539 course on security and conflict 09:54.549 --> 09:58.099 prevention . Each of us is 09:58.109 --> 10:00.276 combining all our elements of national 10:00.276 --> 10:03.520 power towards maintaining peace and 10:03.530 --> 10:07.039 deterring conflict . And together we 10:07.049 --> 10:10.099 work to ensure that no state ever 10:10.109 --> 10:12.630 concludes that the benefits of conflict 10:12.640 --> 10:15.549 in our region outweighs the costs . 10:16.940 --> 10:19.640 Uh You would also have seen uh as uh 10:19.650 --> 10:22.030 Secretary Blinken has said we have made 10:22.330 --> 10:25.080 uh a range of other announcements which 10:25.090 --> 10:27.219 demonstrate the continuing broadening 10:27.229 --> 10:30.030 of our partnership . Uh Yesterday , he 10:30.039 --> 10:33.690 and I en endorsed uh the US framework 10:33.700 --> 10:35.756 to counter foreign state information 10:35.756 --> 10:37.599 manipulation . This is about an 10:37.609 --> 10:39.539 investment in the protection of 10:39.549 --> 10:43.409 democracy . One of the many 10:43.419 --> 10:45.719 things we share and of course , the 10:45.729 --> 10:47.896 establishment of the Australia US land 10:47.896 --> 10:50.059 sat next partnership which enhances 10:50.070 --> 10:52.390 co-operation on satellite imaging data 10:52.400 --> 10:54.950 collection . Uh And of course , our 10:54.960 --> 10:57.071 entry into the global entry US global 10:57.080 --> 11:01.070 entry program from next year . But I 11:01.080 --> 11:03.302 I the really the primary point I wanted 11:03.302 --> 11:05.302 to emphasize in this conference was 11:05.302 --> 11:07.929 this American leadership matters . 11:09.239 --> 11:11.650 American leadership has always mattered 11:13.580 --> 11:17.070 and it remains vital today . It's vital 11:17.080 --> 11:19.799 for peace , for prosperity 11:21.599 --> 11:25.179 in a free and open world . So we 11:25.190 --> 11:27.412 acknowledge and thank the United States 11:27.412 --> 11:30.729 of America for that leadership . We 11:30.739 --> 11:33.150 acknowledge and thank the US for the 11:33.159 --> 11:35.950 priority you place on allies and 11:35.960 --> 11:39.880 partners together . We can do more 11:40.460 --> 11:44.440 so much more in the world . And in 11:44.450 --> 11:46.799 today's discussions , we have seen what 11:46.809 --> 11:50.030 we share , we have seen the depth of 11:50.039 --> 11:52.950 our alignment , we have seen the depth 11:52.960 --> 11:56.080 of our strategic trust and we have also 11:56.090 --> 11:58.219 seen the sincerity of our friendship 11:58.440 --> 12:00.773 and I thank you for that . So thank you , 12:00.773 --> 12:02.770 Tony and thank you Lloyd . It's a 12:02.780 --> 12:04.391 privilege to work with you . 12:06.989 --> 12:09.359 Uh Deputy Prime Minister Marles Foreign 12:09.369 --> 12:12.119 Minister , Juan , it's great to have 12:12.130 --> 12:15.890 you here with us in Annapolis . But 12:15.900 --> 12:18.178 before I talk about our progress today , 12:18.178 --> 12:20.344 I wanted to say just a few words about 12:20.344 --> 12:22.700 the tensions in the Middle East . The 12:22.710 --> 12:24.932 Department of Defense continues to take 12:24.932 --> 12:26.877 steps to lower temperatures in the 12:26.877 --> 12:30.580 region and to ward off regional 12:30.590 --> 12:33.750 escalation by Iran and its 12:33.760 --> 12:36.070 partners and proxies . 12:37.320 --> 12:39.209 Several US . Service members were 12:39.209 --> 12:42.340 wounded yesterday in a rocket attack on 12:42.349 --> 12:45.109 Al Assad , Al Asad air base in western 12:45.119 --> 12:47.919 Iraq . So make no mistake . 12:48.929 --> 12:52.549 United States will not tolerate attacks 12:52.559 --> 12:56.000 on our personnel in the region . We've 12:56.010 --> 12:57.843 adjusted our military posture to 12:57.843 --> 13:01.039 strengthen our force protection and to 13:01.049 --> 13:03.419 reinforce our ironclad commitment to 13:03.429 --> 13:06.169 the defense of Israel and to remain 13:06.179 --> 13:09.330 prepared to respond to any contingency , 13:11.369 --> 13:13.425 to maintain our carrier strike group 13:13.425 --> 13:15.599 presence in the Middle East . I've 13:15.609 --> 13:18.440 ordered , ordered the US S Abraham 13:18.450 --> 13:21.090 Lincoln to replace the US S Theodore 13:21.099 --> 13:24.960 Roosevelt later this month . I've 13:24.969 --> 13:26.691 also ordered more cruisers and 13:26.691 --> 13:28.913 destroyers capable of ballistic missile 13:28.913 --> 13:32.789 defense to the region and I've ordered 13:32.799 --> 13:34.688 the deployment of another fighter 13:34.688 --> 13:36.440 squadron to the Middle East to 13:36.450 --> 13:38.780 reinforce our defensive air support 13:38.789 --> 13:41.960 capabilities there . And these posture 13:41.969 --> 13:45.070 adjustments add to our already broad 13:45.080 --> 13:48.000 range of capabilities in the region and 13:48.010 --> 13:49.960 we remain ready to deploy on short 13:49.969 --> 13:52.919 notice to meet evolving threats to our 13:52.929 --> 13:55.830 security , our partners 13:56.559 --> 14:00.289 or our interests . The United States 14:00.299 --> 14:02.679 remains intensely focused on de 14:02.750 --> 14:05.830 escalating tensions in the region . And 14:05.840 --> 14:07.673 we're also focused on securing a 14:07.673 --> 14:10.359 ceasefire as a part of a hostage deal 14:10.369 --> 14:12.979 to bring all of the hostages home and 14:12.989 --> 14:16.989 to end the war in Gaza . Now 14:17.000 --> 14:18.909 let me turn to our two plus two . 14:20.479 --> 14:22.780 Today's meetings have once again 14:22.789 --> 14:25.011 demonstrated the extraordinary strength 14:25.011 --> 14:26.960 of our unbreakable alliance with 14:26.969 --> 14:30.559 Australia , United States and Australia 14:30.890 --> 14:33.260 share a common vision for a free and 14:33.270 --> 14:37.239 open Indo Pacific and that guided 14:37.250 --> 14:40.789 today's discussions . Let me mention 14:40.799 --> 14:44.489 three key items . First , we agreed to 14:44.500 --> 14:46.580 continue deepening our Force posture 14:46.590 --> 14:49.510 cooper operation . Our countries are 14:49.520 --> 14:51.750 upgrading critical air bases in Western 14:51.760 --> 14:54.229 Australia and the northern territory . 14:55.289 --> 14:57.511 We're operating from new locations such 14:57.511 --> 15:01.369 as Raraaf or LEMOV and 15:01.380 --> 15:03.270 we're establishing an enduring 15:03.280 --> 15:07.070 logistics location at Band Bandana . 15:08.479 --> 15:10.590 We're also increasing the presence of 15:10.590 --> 15:13.570 rotational us forces in Australia and 15:13.580 --> 15:15.859 all this will mean more a maritime 15:15.869 --> 15:17.813 patrol aircraft and reconnaissance 15:17.813 --> 15:20.609 aircraft operating from bases across 15:20.619 --> 15:24.090 northern Australia . It will also mean 15:24.099 --> 15:26.909 more frequent rotational bomber 15:26.919 --> 15:30.669 deployments . Second , we're 15:30.679 --> 15:33.020 doubling down on our defense industrial 15:33.090 --> 15:34.868 based cooper operation and this 15:34.868 --> 15:37.590 includes supporting Australia's guided 15:37.599 --> 15:39.377 weapons and explosive ordinance 15:39.377 --> 15:42.260 enterprise . By the end of the year , 15:42.270 --> 15:45.460 we're aiming to sign two memorandums of 15:45.469 --> 15:47.400 memorandums of Understanding on 15:47.409 --> 15:50.780 critical munitions . The first supports 15:50.789 --> 15:53.419 manufacturing guided multiple launch 15:53.429 --> 15:57.020 rocket systems or Gimler in Australia 15:57.030 --> 16:00.919 by 2025 . The second advances 16:00.929 --> 16:03.820 the co production co sustainment and 16:03.830 --> 16:07.580 cove of the precision strike uh missile 16:07.590 --> 16:10.599 or prison . And as we accelerate our 16:10.609 --> 16:13.700 work together on prism , we agreed to 16:13.710 --> 16:16.219 stand up a joint program office in 16:16.229 --> 16:20.159 early 2025 . Together these efforts 16:20.169 --> 16:23.159 will help ensure that we have the 16:23.169 --> 16:26.140 capability and the capacity that we 16:26.150 --> 16:29.159 will need for decades to come . And 16:29.169 --> 16:32.210 finally , we will continue to advance 16:32.219 --> 16:34.330 our defense ties with regional allies 16:34.330 --> 16:38.309 and partners , especially India , Japan 16:38.760 --> 16:41.690 and the Philippines . And along with 16:41.700 --> 16:43.859 our UK allies , we continue to make 16:43.869 --> 16:45.925 outstanding progress through the Aus 16:45.925 --> 16:48.530 partnership . The United States is 16:48.539 --> 16:50.539 pursuing different initiatives with 16:50.539 --> 16:52.706 each of our allies and partners in the 16:52.706 --> 16:55.270 Indo Pacific and all of that work . All 16:55.280 --> 16:57.613 of that vital work builds greater peace , 16:57.613 --> 17:00.140 stability and deterrence across the 17:00.150 --> 17:03.340 region . You know , Secretary Blinken 17:03.349 --> 17:05.405 and I returned from the Indo Pacific 17:05.405 --> 17:08.068 just last week , we participated in two 17:08.078 --> 17:10.300 plus two meetings with our counterparts 17:10.300 --> 17:12.467 in Japan and the Philippines . In both 17:12.467 --> 17:15.709 Tokyo and Manila . We spoke at length 17:15.719 --> 17:18.680 about Australia's vital role and in our 17:18.689 --> 17:21.890 network of alliances and the United 17:21.900 --> 17:23.920 States , Australia and our other 17:23.930 --> 17:25.930 friends in the region are operating 17:25.930 --> 17:28.430 together more closely and more capably 17:28.439 --> 17:31.489 than ever before . So , Richard and 17:31.500 --> 17:34.569 Penny , thanks for your leadership and 17:34.579 --> 17:37.369 for your commitment to our alliance and 17:37.380 --> 17:40.290 to the security in the region . So we 17:40.300 --> 17:42.849 got a lot done today . We'll keep 17:42.859 --> 17:45.081 building on our joint achievements over 17:45.081 --> 17:47.510 the past 3.5 years and we'll keep 17:47.520 --> 17:50.489 charting an ambitious course forward . 17:51.260 --> 17:53.959 Thanks again and now Richard over to 17:53.969 --> 17:57.630 you . Well , can I thank uh 17:57.640 --> 18:00.119 Secretary Lincoln and Secretary Austin 18:00.130 --> 18:03.310 for hosting Penny and I uh at this 18:03.319 --> 18:05.449 year's Ausmin and it has been a real 18:05.459 --> 18:08.310 treat to be able to conduct Ausmin this 18:08.319 --> 18:11.739 year uh at the US Naval Academy here at 18:11.750 --> 18:15.430 Annapolis . This is the 34th Ausmin 18:15.780 --> 18:17.630 and it's the third that we've 18:17.640 --> 18:20.699 undertaken as a group of four . And 18:20.709 --> 18:23.579 when we reflect over the last two years , 18:23.589 --> 18:25.920 there have been huge achievements 18:26.060 --> 18:29.560 across three Ausmin in advancing our 18:29.569 --> 18:33.280 alliance , we have seen today uh 18:33.290 --> 18:36.650 groundbreaking discussions in respect 18:36.660 --> 18:39.459 of a much greater collaboration between 18:39.469 --> 18:41.290 our defense industry bases , 18:41.300 --> 18:43.739 particularly in respect of the 18:43.750 --> 18:46.939 manufacture of guided weapons uh in 18:46.949 --> 18:50.829 Australia . As uh Lloyd said , we 18:50.839 --> 18:54.650 have committed to having an mou by the 18:54.660 --> 18:57.709 end of this year for the co assembly of 18:57.719 --> 19:00.449 Gim's guided land based rockets in 19:00.459 --> 19:02.959 Australia . Uh with the intent of the 19:02.969 --> 19:04.802 beginnings of that manufacturing 19:04.802 --> 19:07.939 occurring next year , we've also 19:08.069 --> 19:11.020 agreed to pursue a memorandum of 19:11.030 --> 19:13.030 Understanding in relation to the co 19:13.030 --> 19:15.449 production of the precision strike 19:15.459 --> 19:18.479 missile in Australia with the standing 19:18.489 --> 19:21.219 up of a joint program office next year . 19:22.630 --> 19:26.569 Now , uh what this has seen uh is a 19:26.579 --> 19:29.079 much closer working of our defense 19:29.089 --> 19:32.339 industry bases . And the legislation 19:32.349 --> 19:34.540 that was passed through the Congress 19:34.550 --> 19:36.569 last year with the complementary 19:36.579 --> 19:38.801 legislation that was passed through the 19:38.801 --> 19:41.020 Australian Parliament in March of this 19:41.030 --> 19:44.569 year has given rise to a generational 19:44.579 --> 19:47.449 dream in establishing a seamless 19:47.459 --> 19:49.699 defense industrial base between 19:49.709 --> 19:52.489 Australia and America . And we 19:52.500 --> 19:55.410 continued in our discussions today to 19:55.420 --> 19:57.750 develop this . This is going to give 19:57.760 --> 20:00.729 enormous opportunities for Australian 20:00.739 --> 20:03.650 companies to uh participate and 20:03.660 --> 20:06.849 contribute to the supply chain here in 20:06.859 --> 20:09.729 the United States . And as part of this , 20:09.829 --> 20:11.551 uh we're seeing a much greater 20:11.551 --> 20:13.969 co-operation between our two defense 20:13.979 --> 20:16.439 innovation systems . And again , we 20:16.449 --> 20:19.290 have undertaken to establish AM ou of 20:19.300 --> 20:22.270 cooper operation between the Defense 20:22.280 --> 20:24.224 Innovation Unit here in the United 20:24.224 --> 20:26.113 States and the Advanced Strategic 20:26.113 --> 20:28.579 Capabilities Accelerator in Australia 20:29.640 --> 20:32.719 in relation to Force Posture . This 20:32.729 --> 20:35.719 year's Ausmin has built on the last two 20:36.060 --> 20:39.300 in seeing a deepening of American Force 20:39.310 --> 20:41.819 Posture in Australia . Now , the heart 20:41.829 --> 20:44.579 of that is the marine rotation in 20:44.589 --> 20:47.420 Darwin , which is occurring as we speak . 20:47.660 --> 20:49.716 And in the next couple of years , we 20:49.716 --> 20:51.771 look forward to the establishment of 20:51.771 --> 20:53.827 the submarine , submarine Rotational 20:53.827 --> 20:56.079 Force West in Perth , but American 20:56.089 --> 20:58.550 Force Posture now in Australia uh 20:58.560 --> 21:01.849 involves every domain , land , sea , 21:01.859 --> 21:05.569 air cyber and space . And so we are 21:05.579 --> 21:08.599 seeing uh us army watercraft , for 21:08.609 --> 21:10.720 example , engaging in Australia . And 21:10.720 --> 21:12.553 as Lloyd said , we've now seen a 21:12.553 --> 21:15.469 logistics base be established by the 21:15.479 --> 21:18.560 United States at Bandana near Albury . 21:18.569 --> 21:21.280 And this is greatly going to enhance 21:21.290 --> 21:24.089 the United states' ability to operate 21:24.099 --> 21:27.810 in Australia . The presence of 21:27.819 --> 21:31.060 American Force Posture in our nation 21:31.180 --> 21:33.810 provides an enormous opportunity to 21:33.819 --> 21:36.152 work with our neighbors . In the region . 21:36.359 --> 21:38.900 And as Penny and I uh move throughout 21:38.910 --> 21:41.132 the region and speak to our neighbors . 21:41.132 --> 21:43.750 There is genuine appreciation for the 21:43.760 --> 21:46.319 contribution that America is making to 21:46.329 --> 21:48.551 the stability and the peace of the Indo 21:48.630 --> 21:50.969 Pacific region by its presence in 21:50.979 --> 21:53.219 Australia . But what this is doing is 21:53.229 --> 21:55.560 allowing us to do a much greater range 21:55.569 --> 21:58.479 of activities uh and operations and 21:58.489 --> 22:00.545 exercises with our partners . And we 22:00.545 --> 22:02.849 spoke about that today with Japan , for 22:02.859 --> 22:04.803 example , where we've committed to 22:04.803 --> 22:06.526 doing a much greater amount of 22:06.526 --> 22:08.869 trilateral exercises between uh our 22:08.880 --> 22:11.520 three countries , but also doing more 22:11.530 --> 22:14.520 maritime domain awareness work . Uh not 22:14.530 --> 22:16.252 only with Japan , but with the 22:16.252 --> 22:19.489 Philippines and with India finally , 22:19.500 --> 22:23.109 can I just uh add my thanks to 22:23.280 --> 22:26.469 Lloyd um and Tony for 22:26.719 --> 22:29.729 their co-operation with Penny and I in 22:29.739 --> 22:33.410 advancing our alliance . We deeply 22:33.420 --> 22:36.890 appreciate it . We deeply appreciate 22:36.900 --> 22:39.689 the personal role that Lloyd and Tony 22:39.699 --> 22:43.530 have played in giving expression to 22:43.540 --> 22:45.484 American leadership in the world , 22:45.689 --> 22:48.400 which as Penny said , deeply matters , 22:48.540 --> 22:51.430 deeply matters in terms of promoting 22:51.520 --> 22:53.464 democratic values and human rights 22:53.464 --> 22:55.576 throughout the world . Deeply matters 22:55.576 --> 22:58.800 in terms of maintaining a global rules 22:58.810 --> 23:02.060 based order , which is so important for 23:02.069 --> 23:04.219 Australia , which engages Australia's 23:04.229 --> 23:06.810 national interest deeply . And so I 23:06.819 --> 23:10.510 really want to say thank you for the 23:10.520 --> 23:12.709 partnership that we have been able to 23:12.719 --> 23:16.619 express on behalf of our nations . But 23:16.630 --> 23:18.797 at a personal level , uh I really want 23:18.797 --> 23:20.908 to say on behalf of Penny and I thank 23:20.908 --> 23:23.819 you uh for the deep friendship that we 23:23.829 --> 23:25.773 have now built across this stage . 23:25.849 --> 23:28.939 Thank you . Thank you all . Our first 23:28.949 --> 23:31.180 question . We'll go to Shine Tenant 23:31.209 --> 23:32.209 Agency for . 23:35.810 --> 23:37.869 Uh Thank you . Good evening . Uh Mr 23:37.880 --> 23:39.824 Secretary Secretary Blinken , if I 23:39.824 --> 23:41.991 could start uh to follow up on some of 23:41.991 --> 23:41.939 your comments in the Middle East , uh 23:41.949 --> 23:44.005 You mentioned it's a decisive moment 23:44.005 --> 23:46.227 right now for the cease fire talks . Uh 23:46.227 --> 23:48.449 Today , Hamas has appointed uh Sinar as 23:48.459 --> 23:51.189 their new political head . Um Somebody 23:51.199 --> 23:53.032 who masterminded the October 7th 23:53.032 --> 23:55.530 attacks , somebody who by most accounts 23:55.540 --> 23:57.596 is hiding in tunnels . How does this 23:57.596 --> 24:00.530 bode for uh for cease fire talks ? You 24:00.540 --> 24:04.050 also mentioned the consensus about 24:04.060 --> 24:06.282 how Iran should or should not respond . 24:06.589 --> 24:08.645 You spoke with the Jordanian Foreign 24:08.645 --> 24:10.700 Minister today . Do you think Jordan 24:10.700 --> 24:12.811 and other countries in the region are 24:12.811 --> 24:15.439 on board and potentially repelling or , 24:15.449 --> 24:17.290 or striking down any Iranian 24:17.300 --> 24:20.050 projectiles that then may come ? Um And 24:20.060 --> 24:22.227 if I can ask all of us , all of you uh 24:22.227 --> 24:24.227 including our Australian uh the the 24:24.227 --> 24:26.227 Australian ministers uh in the Indo 24:26.227 --> 24:28.393 Pacific , a very different appointment 24:28.393 --> 24:30.060 uh today . Uh Mohammad Yus in 24:30.060 --> 24:32.282 Bangladesh . Uh I just wanted to see if 24:32.282 --> 24:31.670 you had any thoughts about where 24:31.680 --> 24:33.849 Bangladesh is going stability , uh 24:33.859 --> 24:36.081 whether you , how you see that . Um And 24:36.081 --> 24:38.303 just very briefly uh Secretary Austin , 24:38.303 --> 24:40.630 if I could ask in particular uh on uh 24:40.849 --> 24:43.182 but an important topic , a domestic one , 24:43.182 --> 24:45.293 but the 911 trial , um the , the plea 24:45.293 --> 24:47.127 agreement , which which you have 24:47.127 --> 24:49.349 canceled . I wanted to see if you could 24:49.349 --> 24:51.516 explain that a bit to us . Um There of 24:51.516 --> 24:53.682 course , of course been concerns about 24:53.682 --> 24:55.738 the plea agreement voiced by some of 24:55.738 --> 24:55.510 the families , but also there have been 24:55.520 --> 24:57.742 longs standing concerns about a trial , 24:57.742 --> 24:59.964 not only because of the death penalty , 24:59.964 --> 25:01.687 but because of the use of , of 25:01.687 --> 25:03.909 waterboarding , of torture in the uh in 25:03.909 --> 25:06.020 the evidence . Do you believe a trial 25:06.020 --> 25:06.000 can go forward ? Thanks very much . 25:07.160 --> 25:09.271 Thank you , Sean . And um I know your 25:09.271 --> 25:11.216 colleagues , appreciate you asking 25:11.216 --> 25:13.327 their questions for them as well . Um 25:13.969 --> 25:16.569 So on the questions uh addressed to me 25:16.579 --> 25:19.420 first with regard to um uh Mr Sinar , 25:20.140 --> 25:24.140 um he has been uh 25:24.239 --> 25:27.099 and remains the primary decider when it 25:27.109 --> 25:29.930 comes to concluding a cease fire . And 25:29.939 --> 25:31.995 so I think this only underscores the 25:32.270 --> 25:35.750 fact that uh it is really on him to 25:35.760 --> 25:37.871 decide whether to move forward with a 25:37.871 --> 25:40.810 cease fire that manifestly uh will uh 25:40.819 --> 25:42.989 help so many Palestinians in desperate 25:43.000 --> 25:45.810 need , women , Children and men who 25:45.819 --> 25:47.819 were caught in a crossfire of Hamas 25:47.819 --> 25:50.699 making in Gaza . Uh whether we can put 25:50.709 --> 25:52.790 um Gaza and the region more broadly 25:52.800 --> 25:55.369 onto a more peaceful and uh and secure 25:55.380 --> 25:58.959 path . Uh So uh it only 25:58.969 --> 26:01.025 emphasizes the fact that as has been 26:01.025 --> 26:03.260 the case for , for some time , it 26:03.270 --> 26:06.550 really is on him . And as the president 26:06.560 --> 26:08.060 said today , following his 26:08.060 --> 26:10.300 conversations with uh President Al Sisi 26:10.310 --> 26:13.829 and with um uh Amir Tamim . Uh This is 26:13.839 --> 26:15.728 the moment , this is the decisive 26:15.728 --> 26:18.500 moment . Um The negotiations have 26:18.510 --> 26:21.260 reached their final stage and we 26:21.270 --> 26:24.780 believe strongly that they should come 26:24.790 --> 26:27.780 across the finish line very very soon . 26:27.900 --> 26:31.660 And that besides uh changing everything 26:32.069 --> 26:33.958 for people in Gaza , bringing the 26:33.958 --> 26:35.660 hostages home , giving us an 26:35.670 --> 26:37.726 opportunity to build a more enduring 26:37.726 --> 26:40.660 peace for Gaza also opens up 26:41.510 --> 26:43.621 other possibilities , other prospects 26:43.621 --> 26:46.020 more broadly in terms of deescalating 26:46.030 --> 26:48.890 tensions and bringing real security and 26:48.900 --> 26:51.689 stability . Um That's what we're 26:51.699 --> 26:53.755 focused on . And so when it comes to 26:53.755 --> 26:56.369 defending Israel , we are resolute , 26:56.540 --> 26:58.579 will remain resolute in making sure 26:58.589 --> 27:00.478 that we do everything possible to 27:00.478 --> 27:02.645 defend it against any attacks . Uh I'm 27:02.645 --> 27:04.680 not going to speculate on how that 27:04.689 --> 27:07.280 might go forward . Um I can tell you 27:07.290 --> 27:09.910 that the intense focus that we have and 27:09.920 --> 27:11.920 that all our partners in the region 27:11.920 --> 27:14.142 have , including our Jordanian partners 27:14.142 --> 27:16.364 with whom I spoke today . Uh That focus 27:16.364 --> 27:18.531 is on De Eal is on making sure that no 27:18.531 --> 27:20.753 one takes any steps that could actually 27:20.753 --> 27:23.160 um add fuel to the fire and broaden the 27:23.170 --> 27:25.579 conflict . And they're also intensely 27:25.589 --> 27:27.700 focused on getting the ceasefire over 27:27.700 --> 27:29.700 the finish line . Uh with regard to 27:29.700 --> 27:31.589 Bangladesh , we're monitoring the 27:31.589 --> 27:33.709 situation very closely . Um I would 27:33.719 --> 27:37.420 just say that any uh decisions that the 27:37.430 --> 27:40.060 interim government makes uh need to 27:40.069 --> 27:42.291 respect democratic principles , need to 27:42.291 --> 27:44.458 uphold the , the rule of law , need to 27:44.458 --> 27:47.109 reflect the will of the people . Um We 27:47.260 --> 27:49.427 for our part , take very seriously the 27:49.427 --> 27:51.538 safety and security and well being of 27:51.538 --> 27:53.760 American citizens of our personnel . Uh 27:53.760 --> 27:55.982 We , uh we want as I think , you know , 27:55.982 --> 27:58.204 to order departure of our non-essential 27:58.204 --> 28:00.149 personnel and of course , we'll be 28:00.149 --> 28:02.371 watching this , um , day in , day out . 28:05.380 --> 28:07.047 Uh You asked me a question on 28:07.047 --> 28:08.824 Bangladesh . Uh And I think the 28:08.824 --> 28:11.349 secretary's outlined , uh really , uh a 28:11.359 --> 28:13.489 similar position to the one I would 28:13.500 --> 28:15.333 have articulated . II , I was in 28:15.339 --> 28:17.061 Bangladesh not long ago . So I 28:17.061 --> 28:19.719 obviously have watched with particular 28:19.729 --> 28:22.099 personal concern uh as well as our uh 28:22.359 --> 28:24.699 nation's concern about the violence and 28:24.709 --> 28:26.931 tragic loss of life in Bangladesh . And 28:27.040 --> 28:29.520 I want to offer our deepest condolences 28:29.530 --> 28:31.739 to families and friends of all those 28:31.750 --> 28:34.900 who have died uh in relation to the 28:34.910 --> 28:37.021 interim government . What we would do 28:37.021 --> 28:39.132 say is we , we call on all parties to 28:39.132 --> 28:41.354 cease violence . We call on all parties 28:41.354 --> 28:43.410 to deescalated and respect universal 28:43.420 --> 28:45.339 rights and we urge a full and 28:45.349 --> 28:47.571 independent and impartial investigation 28:47.571 --> 28:50.479 into the events of recent weeks . Uh We 28:50.489 --> 28:53.449 continue to support uh the calls from 28:53.459 --> 28:55.681 the people of Bangladesh for an orderly 28:55.681 --> 28:57.903 and peaceful return to a democratic and 28:57.903 --> 28:59.181 inclusive government . 29:01.989 --> 29:02.989 Yeah . 29:06.109 --> 29:08.220 Yeah . OK . I thought I love what you 29:08.220 --> 29:10.719 was gonna . Well , thanks for the 29:10.729 --> 29:13.199 question . I would just say that 29:13.390 --> 29:16.170 there's not a day that goes by when I 29:16.180 --> 29:19.560 don't think of 911 and the Americans 29:19.569 --> 29:23.030 that were murdered that day . Also 29:23.040 --> 29:27.020 those who died trying to save lives and 29:27.030 --> 29:29.197 the troops and their families who gave 29:29.197 --> 29:31.479 so much for this country . And the in 29:31.489 --> 29:32.989 the years following that , 29:35.489 --> 29:38.199 I'm deeply mindful of my duty to all 29:38.209 --> 29:40.376 those whose lives were lost or changed 29:40.376 --> 29:43.930 forever on 911 . And I fully understand 29:43.939 --> 29:47.880 that no measure of justice can ever 29:47.890 --> 29:51.630 make up for their loss . So this wasn't 29:51.640 --> 29:55.189 a decision that I took lightly , but I 29:55.199 --> 29:57.421 have long believed that the families of 29:57.421 --> 30:00.390 the victims , our service members 30:01.250 --> 30:03.300 and the American public deserve the 30:03.310 --> 30:06.619 opportunity to see . Mi Military 30:06.630 --> 30:09.250 Commissions Commission trials are 30:09.260 --> 30:11.780 carried out in this case and I'll leave 30:11.790 --> 30:14.550 it at that . Ok . Our next question 30:14.560 --> 30:17.719 will go to Jade mcmillan Australian 30:17.729 --> 30:19.229 Broadcasting Corporation . 30:21.489 --> 30:23.433 Thank you very much . Uh Secretary 30:23.433 --> 30:25.600 Blinken , Julian Assange's lawyers say 30:25.600 --> 30:27.656 that they'll be seeking a pardon for 30:27.656 --> 30:29.656 his criminal conviction in the US . 30:29.656 --> 30:31.322 Would you consider that to be 30:31.322 --> 30:33.545 appropriate ? And secondly , were there 30:33.545 --> 30:35.489 any concerns raised on the US side 30:35.489 --> 30:37.489 about how the Australian government 30:37.489 --> 30:39.545 responded to his release ? There was 30:39.545 --> 30:41.600 some uh criticism domestically , for 30:41.600 --> 30:43.719 example , that the welcome uh he 30:43.729 --> 30:45.520 received risked damaging the 30:45.530 --> 30:47.697 relationship between Australia and the 30:47.697 --> 30:50.709 US . OK . Thank you . Look , uh 30:50.719 --> 30:53.750 we've uh had a legal process uh go 30:53.760 --> 30:57.699 forward uh and conclude . Um We 30:57.709 --> 30:59.820 didn't talk about this at all today . 30:59.820 --> 31:01.709 It didn't come up in our , in our 31:01.709 --> 31:03.653 conversations and in terms of what 31:03.653 --> 31:05.765 follows , um I would refer you to our 31:05.765 --> 31:07.876 own department of Justice . But uh as 31:07.876 --> 31:10.042 far as I'm concerned , there's a legal 31:10.042 --> 31:12.098 process it's been concluded and I'll 31:12.098 --> 31:13.931 leave it at that . Ok . Our next 31:13.931 --> 31:16.042 question will go to Reuters , Idris . 31:19.599 --> 31:21.710 I've got a few questions as well . So 31:22.510 --> 31:25.520 can I just ask Minister Wong and Deputy 31:25.530 --> 31:27.810 Prime Minister MS , what role would 31:27.819 --> 31:30.660 Australia play in a Taiwan contingency 31:30.670 --> 31:32.949 beyond basing support ? Would you 31:32.959 --> 31:35.589 commit troops to helping defend Taiwan 31:35.800 --> 31:39.099 for Secretary Austin who was behind the 31:39.109 --> 31:41.619 attack at Al Assad yesterday ? And do 31:41.630 --> 31:43.939 you believe an Iranian or Hezbollah 31:43.949 --> 31:46.219 attack against Israel is imminent ? 31:46.619 --> 31:50.329 Secretary Blinken , why do you believe 31:50.339 --> 31:53.739 Prime Minister Netanyahu , will heed 31:53.750 --> 31:55.859 your calls to deescalated given that 31:55.869 --> 31:57.980 for the past nine months or so , he's 31:57.980 --> 32:00.202 either ignored or gone directly against 32:00.202 --> 32:02.119 your request . Um whether it's on 32:02.130 --> 32:05.650 civilian casualties or um uh you know , 32:05.660 --> 32:07.885 negotiations on the cease fire . And , 32:07.895 --> 32:10.062 and more broadly , you mentioned the , 32:10.062 --> 32:12.228 the , the ceasefire talks are in their 32:12.228 --> 32:14.173 final stages . We've heard similar 32:14.173 --> 32:17.094 optimism before . Um Why or do you 32:17.104 --> 32:19.625 believe that Israel has set back that 32:19.635 --> 32:22.275 effort given that they allegedly killed 32:22.285 --> 32:24.452 the leader of the group that they were 32:24.452 --> 32:26.341 supposed to be negotiating with ? 32:28.900 --> 32:32.439 Do you want ? Well , that perhaps if I 32:32.449 --> 32:35.410 uh start and I'll uh hand over to , to 32:35.420 --> 32:37.420 Penny , I mean , the first point to 32:37.420 --> 32:39.587 make in respect of your first question 32:39.587 --> 32:41.753 is obviously we're not gonna speculate 32:41.753 --> 32:44.087 uh about hypotheticals uh in the future . 32:44.430 --> 32:48.199 Um Our alliance uh is one where we are 32:48.209 --> 32:50.410 working closely together with the 32:50.420 --> 32:53.609 United States to deter conflict uh in 32:53.619 --> 32:55.640 the future . And that is where our 32:55.650 --> 32:58.369 focus uh and energy is at . And in that 32:58.380 --> 33:02.050 respect , um our position remains one 33:02.060 --> 33:05.489 of supporting uh the status quo across 33:05.500 --> 33:08.160 the Taiwan straits and not want wanting 33:08.170 --> 33:10.630 to see uh any unilateral change to that 33:10.640 --> 33:11.640 status quo . 33:14.680 --> 33:16.902 Uh Thanks Idris and in terms of who was 33:16.902 --> 33:20.890 behind the attack on Al Assad , um 33:21.060 --> 33:23.989 we're sure that it was uh an Iranian 33:24.000 --> 33:26.040 backed Shia militia group , uh 33:26.050 --> 33:28.650 specifically which group we're still 33:28.660 --> 33:31.920 investigating to uh to determine uh to 33:31.930 --> 33:34.550 determine that in terms of whether or 33:34.560 --> 33:38.469 not or when uh Iran would 33:38.479 --> 33:40.770 uh choose to attack Israel . I'm not 33:40.780 --> 33:43.329 going to speculate on any uh any 33:43.339 --> 33:46.050 Iranian actions going forward , Iris as 33:46.060 --> 33:48.282 you know , what I've been focused on is 33:48.282 --> 33:50.530 making sure that uh we're doing 33:50.540 --> 33:53.180 everything we can to put measures in 33:53.189 --> 33:55.849 place to protect our troops . And also 33:55.859 --> 33:57.810 make sure that uh we're in a good 33:57.819 --> 34:01.530 position to uh aid uh in the uh 34:02.099 --> 34:04.699 in the defense of Israel if the , if 34:04.709 --> 34:07.760 called upon to do that . Um So you've 34:07.770 --> 34:09.603 seen us do a number of things to 34:09.603 --> 34:12.189 strengthen our force posture . Uh And 34:12.199 --> 34:14.330 uh again , I'm in constant 34:14.770 --> 34:16.699 communications with , with my 34:16.709 --> 34:19.129 commanders in the region and also uh 34:19.139 --> 34:22.830 with our allies as well . So , um we'll 34:22.840 --> 34:25.007 see how this evolves , but I won't , I 34:25.007 --> 34:27.189 won't speculate on any specific action 34:27.199 --> 34:30.760 by Iran or any other uh Iranian 34:30.770 --> 34:33.610 backed uh back group going forward 34:34.820 --> 34:36.876 and interest , uh with regard to the 34:36.876 --> 34:40.139 Middle East . Uh , it is 34:40.790 --> 34:43.012 manifestly in the interests of everyone 34:43.159 --> 34:46.560 involved , uh to avoid 34:46.570 --> 34:48.514 escalation , to avoid the conflict 34:48.514 --> 34:50.737 spreading . And I believe that actually 34:50.737 --> 34:53.239 no one wants escalation , no one wants 34:53.250 --> 34:56.149 to see the conflict spread . But it's 34:56.159 --> 34:58.590 very important that , um , no one takes 34:58.600 --> 35:00.711 steps that could lead to that even if 35:00.711 --> 35:02.878 it's unintended . And that's why we've 35:02.878 --> 35:04.878 been engaged in this intense effort 35:04.878 --> 35:08.639 across the region and beyond uh to 35:08.649 --> 35:11.110 press everyone involved including 35:11.120 --> 35:13.770 Israel to avoid anything that could uh 35:13.780 --> 35:16.439 actually escalate the conflict . And uh 35:16.449 --> 35:18.616 again , it comes down to the fact that 35:18.616 --> 35:20.727 people , that's not where people want 35:20.727 --> 35:22.727 to go . We want to make sure to the 35:22.727 --> 35:24.893 best of our ability that they don't go 35:24.893 --> 35:28.620 there even um by inadvertently uh when 35:28.629 --> 35:30.573 it comes to the cease fire . Let's 35:30.573 --> 35:32.796 understand uh where we are , how we got 35:32.796 --> 35:34.629 there and why we believe this is 35:34.629 --> 35:36.796 something that should close and should 35:36.796 --> 35:39.459 close very soon . Um Some weeks ago , 35:39.469 --> 35:41.525 now , President Biden put before the 35:41.525 --> 35:44.469 world a proposal for the cease fire , 35:44.479 --> 35:46.709 the release of hostages , a pathway to 35:46.719 --> 35:49.969 an enduring peace in uh in Gaza and the 35:49.979 --> 35:52.179 entire world rallied behind it country 35:52.189 --> 35:54.245 after country stood up in support of 35:54.245 --> 35:56.300 the proposal culminated in a vote at 35:56.300 --> 35:58.467 the United Nations Security Council 14 35:58.467 --> 36:00.633 to nothing . Uh endorsing the proposal 36:00.633 --> 36:02.356 indeed incorporating it into a 36:02.356 --> 36:04.522 resolution . We don't see the Security 36:04.522 --> 36:06.633 Council agreeing on much these days . 36:06.633 --> 36:08.745 Uh but I think that reflects the fact 36:08.745 --> 36:10.856 that quite literally the entire world 36:10.856 --> 36:12.967 um came out in support of it . Um And 36:12.967 --> 36:14.911 then it took some time , but Hamas 36:14.911 --> 36:17.719 after a couple of weeks uh agreed to 36:17.729 --> 36:19.618 support the proposal . So there's 36:19.618 --> 36:21.785 agreement on the uh on the framework , 36:21.785 --> 36:24.007 what we've been working on for the last 36:24.007 --> 36:26.173 few weeks are important details of how 36:26.173 --> 36:28.118 that is actually implemented . And 36:28.118 --> 36:30.229 there were some things that had to be 36:30.229 --> 36:32.396 negotiated in that process , that work 36:32.396 --> 36:34.580 has continued even with the recent 36:34.590 --> 36:37.679 events um in the region . And we 36:37.689 --> 36:39.800 believe based on the work that's been 36:39.800 --> 36:42.022 done based on the very practical issues 36:42.022 --> 36:44.120 that are at stake that there is no 36:44.129 --> 36:46.100 reason that this should not be uh 36:46.110 --> 36:48.860 concluded and concluded quickly . So 36:48.870 --> 36:52.270 this is really a time for all of the 36:52.280 --> 36:55.659 parties involved to close this out . 36:56.610 --> 37:00.149 No delays , no excuses , no reasons why 37:00.159 --> 37:02.679 we can't do something focus on getting 37:02.689 --> 37:05.709 to . Yes , the reason among other 37:05.719 --> 37:07.886 things that we very much want to avoid 37:07.886 --> 37:09.941 any escalation is because yes , that 37:09.941 --> 37:11.663 has the potential to disrupt , 37:11.663 --> 37:13.775 concluding the cease fire agreement . 37:13.775 --> 37:15.775 Uh So in and of itself , escalation 37:15.775 --> 37:17.886 would be a bad thing . Uh But it also 37:17.886 --> 37:20.820 has the potential to upend bringing the 37:20.830 --> 37:22.959 cease fire over the line and bring it 37:22.969 --> 37:25.169 included again . This cease fire is 37:25.179 --> 37:27.512 profoundly in the interests of everyone . 37:27.512 --> 37:29.735 It's in the interest of Israelis , it's 37:29.735 --> 37:28.959 in the interests , of course of the 37:28.969 --> 37:31.780 hostages , uh their families uh around 37:31.790 --> 37:33.679 the world including in the United 37:33.679 --> 37:35.457 States . It's manifestly in the 37:35.457 --> 37:37.679 interests of the Palestinian Children , 37:37.679 --> 37:39.790 women and men who are suffering every 37:39.790 --> 37:41.512 day . It's in the interests of 37:41.512 --> 37:43.734 virtually every country in the region . 37:43.734 --> 37:45.957 Uh Because not only is what's happening 37:45.957 --> 37:48.012 in Gaza at stake , but many of these 37:48.012 --> 37:50.123 other points of conflict will also be 37:50.123 --> 37:52.123 profoundly affected by uh getting a 37:52.123 --> 37:54.346 ceasefire . It opens up the prospect of 37:54.346 --> 37:56.457 calming things down everywhere in the 37:56.457 --> 37:59.870 region . So that's our focus . Um We're 37:59.879 --> 38:01.990 doing everything we can both to avoid 38:01.990 --> 38:04.046 the escalation , bring the ceasefire 38:04.046 --> 38:06.046 agreement to , to conclusion and we 38:06.046 --> 38:08.046 won't stop until we get there . Her 38:08.046 --> 38:09.768 final question will go to Adam 38:09.768 --> 38:13.469 Creighton , the Australian . Uh Thank 38:13.479 --> 38:15.757 you very much for taking our questions . 38:15.757 --> 38:17.923 Uh This one is for Secretary Austin uh 38:17.923 --> 38:19.923 so recently , uh the influential uh 38:19.923 --> 38:21.979 media magnate Rupert Murdoch uh said 38:21.979 --> 38:24.146 that in his view , uh he did not think 38:24.146 --> 38:26.090 uh the US would come to the aid of 38:26.090 --> 38:28.257 Taiwan if , if China tried to encroach 38:28.257 --> 38:30.423 on the island . Um So what do you make 38:30.423 --> 38:32.535 of that sort of assessment ? And if , 38:32.535 --> 38:35.350 if Mr Murdoch was wrong , uh is it the 38:35.360 --> 38:37.582 expectation of the US uh that Australia 38:37.590 --> 38:39.820 would come to the assistance of the US 38:39.830 --> 38:41.997 militarily in any such confrontation ? 38:43.199 --> 38:45.366 Well , I , I certainly want to comment 38:45.366 --> 38:48.219 on uh Mr Murdoch's analysis or , or his 38:48.229 --> 38:52.060 statement and I won't speculate on 38:52.070 --> 38:55.780 whether or not there will be a conflict 38:55.790 --> 38:59.139 as , as I've said a number of times , I 38:59.149 --> 39:02.189 don't think conflict with China is , is 39:02.199 --> 39:04.560 either imminent or inevitable . 39:06.340 --> 39:08.340 You know , we continue to work with 39:08.340 --> 39:10.451 like minded partners in the region uh 39:10.451 --> 39:13.870 to ensure that uh we're doing things to 39:14.179 --> 39:18.020 um promote a free and open Indo 39:18.139 --> 39:20.820 Pacific . Uh And so the things that the 39:20.830 --> 39:22.997 types of things that you've seen us do 39:22.997 --> 39:24.997 over the last 3.5 years , I think , 39:24.997 --> 39:27.139 have been quite remarkable above and 39:27.149 --> 39:29.379 beyond the things that uh that we 39:29.389 --> 39:32.850 discussed today uh in this two plus two , 39:33.260 --> 39:36.879 which I mean that there are substantial 39:36.889 --> 39:40.040 accomplishments . Uh But uh our two 39:40.050 --> 39:42.383 countries have uh accomplished together . 39:42.560 --> 39:44.671 Uh But if you look at the things that 39:44.671 --> 39:46.727 we've done in terms of strengthening 39:46.727 --> 39:48.879 our relationship with India uh 39:49.340 --> 39:52.870 developing um helping the 39:52.879 --> 39:55.046 Philippines to modernize their , their 39:55.046 --> 39:58.800 military . Um you know , bringing uh 39:59.949 --> 40:02.659 Japan and uh and the Rok closer 40:02.669 --> 40:06.449 together uh and seen us do recent uh 40:06.459 --> 40:09.879 recent ministerial in uh uh in Japan 40:09.889 --> 40:12.260 with uh Japanese Minister of Defense 40:12.270 --> 40:14.629 and uh and the Minister of Defense from 40:14.639 --> 40:16.861 Rok , that's the first time that that's 40:16.861 --> 40:19.028 ever happened . Uh And so there's just 40:19.028 --> 40:21.195 so many things like that , that , that 40:21.195 --> 40:24.939 we have done uh in the region to uh to 40:24.949 --> 40:27.479 work with others to ensure that uh we 40:27.489 --> 40:30.070 do , in fact , uh move things towards 40:30.080 --> 40:33.129 greater stability and security uh and 40:33.139 --> 40:35.306 promote that vision of a free and open 40:35.370 --> 40:37.889 Indo Pacific . So again , I won't 40:37.899 --> 40:41.050 speculate on uh on anyone's comments or , 40:41.060 --> 40:43.282 or whether or not there , there will be 40:43.282 --> 40:45.449 a conflict . I will just tell you that 40:45.449 --> 40:47.671 uh you know , we'll continue to do what 40:47.671 --> 40:49.838 to , to work with our , our allies and 40:49.838 --> 40:52.060 partners to , to , to make sure that uh 40:52.060 --> 40:53.893 we're moving things in the right 40:53.893 --> 40:56.116 direction and that direction is towards 40:56.116 --> 40:58.338 greater stability and security . Ladies 40:58.338 --> 40:58.219 and gentlemen , this concludes our 40:58.229 --> 41:00.285 press briefing . Thank you very much 41:00.285 --> 41:03.179 for joining us today . I see it . 41:06.879 --> 41:10.830 Thanks . Yeah , 41:13.739 --> 41:14.120 came over .