"US Defense Secretary Austin's Historic Visit to Papua New Guinea and Australia: Countering China's Influence in the South Pacific"

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is embarking on a trip to the Indo-Pacific region, with his first stop being Papua New Guinea, making him the first U.S. defense secretary to visit the island nation. He will then travel to Australia to participate in the annual Australia/United States ministerial consultations and the Talisman Sabre military exercise. Additionally, the Defense Department announced a $400 million package of military equipment to support Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, bringing the total security assistance provided to Ukraine to over $43 billion. The department will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces with an event at the Pentagon.