Today, President Joe Biden is meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Kicks, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Combatant Commanders at the White House. The president will discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the situation with Iran and tensions in the Middle East, as well as the threatening posture of China toward Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific countries.
Earlier this week, National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, met in Honolulu, Hawaii, with leaders from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. They discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed their alliance regarding Pacific islands.
White House NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said of the meeting, “The United States resolved to intensify its engagement in the region to meet 21st-century challenges, from maritime security and economic development to the climate crisis and COVID-19.“
She continued, “Officials from the four countries represented also shared concerns about a proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The meeting was part of regular and extensive U.S. consultations with allies and partners on the Indo-Pacific.“
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For discernment for the president and U.S. military leaders and advisors as they assess international dynamics.
- For wisdom for Defense Secretary Austin as he oversees the U.S. Armed Forces.
- For the U.S. Combatant Commanders as they provide insight and information to the president and Pentagon officials.
