United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is visiting Papua New Guinea, marking the first time a sitting defense secretary has traveled to the island nation.
During his time there, Austin will meet with Prime Minister James Marape, along with Minister for Defense Win Bakri Daki, Secretary for Defense Hari John Akipe, and Chief of Defense Force Maj. Gen. Mark Goina, the department said.
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The visit by Austin, the latest in a number of trips by administration officials, reflects the growing strategic importance of allies in the South Pacific as the U.S. tries to contain China’s growing influence in the region.
The defense leaders will discuss ways to implement the new U.S.-Papua New Guinea Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will form the foundation for their partnership and an agreement concerning counter illicit transnational maritime activity, which is intended to boost the island’s capacity to address maritime threats.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the island in May to sign the cooperation agreement. He took the place of President Joe Biden, who had to cancel a stop in Papua New Guinea so he could return to Washington for negotiations on the debt limit.
"Following this visit, [Austin] will then travel to Australia and join Secretary Blinken to meet with their counterparts for the 33rd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations, and then will meet with U.S. and Australian service members participating in the largest military exercise between the United States and Australia, Talisman Sabre," Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters on Tuesday.