Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with France's Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly today over the phone. Secretary Austin expressed condolences for the death of a French soldier, Brigadier Alexandre Martin, who was killed in Mali last week. The two leaders shared concerns about Russia's escalation on Ukraine's border and in Belarus and expressed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also discussed the continued need for NATO Allies to demonstrate unity and bolster the Alliance in the face of potential Russian aggression. Secretary Austin thanked Minister Parly for France's leadership on deterrence on the Eastern Flank and in counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel.
