Department of Defense Spokesperson Army Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks visited the United Kingdom on May 26-27 to meet with senior U.S. and UK leaders to deepen U.S.-UK defense and security cooperation. They discussed topics related to science, technology, and cyber security advancements as well as areas of mutual security interest.
During her visit, Deputy Secretary Hicks co-chaired the sixth iteration of the U.S.-UK Defense Dialogue with UK Permanent Under Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, David Williams. The two leaders discussed U.S. and UK strategic priorities; U.S. and UK efforts to address climate change as a national security concern; the near- and long-term implications of Russia's unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine, to include security assistance; and the upcoming NATO summit in June. Deputy Secretary Hicks and Permanent Secretary Williams were joined by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher W. Grady and UK Vice Chief of Defence Staff Adm. Sir Tim Fraser.
Deputy Secretary Hicks noted that Allies and partners are a central element of the forthcoming U.S. National Defense Strategy and that the United States is committed to seeking ways to improve collaboration and bolster our ability to advance common objectives. They also discussed continued progress in the AUKUS trilateral partnership.
As part of the Dialogue, the leaders signed an Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Statement of Intent, setting shared strategic objectives for the U.S. Department of Defense and the UK Ministry of Defence related to AI readiness. The SOI will deepen AI cooperation between the two Allies, maintaining and increasing interoperability and promoting values-based global leadership for the responsible development, procurement, and use of AI in defense.
Dr. Hicks also met with Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace and discussed continued strong cooperation on support to Ukraine, mutual security concerns and defense activities in the Indo-Pacific, and charting a path forward on the AUKUS trilateral security partnership with Australia.
She also visited Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, where the Deputy Secretary discussed issues of mutual security interest, to include interoperability and strategic deterrence capabilities.
