Attributed to Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Todd Breasseale:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed the Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren for her first visit to the Pentagon. Secretary Austin hailed U.S.-Dutch bilateral defense cooperation, including the hosting of U.S. and NATO forces. Secretary Austin complimented the Netherlands on its recent Defense White Paper that proposed that the Dutch defense budget will reach 2.0% by 2024 in line with the NATO Wales pledge.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine as it counters Russian aggression and reinforced the importance of unity within the NATO alliance. Secretary Austin thanked his Dutch colleague for the significant support the Netherlands has provided to Ukraine as well as to Eastern Flank Allies. They also discussed the importance of reinforcing security in the Indo-Pacific through bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnerships across the region.
