Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady attended the U.S.-UK Defense Dialogue with their UK counterparts, Permanent Under Secretary for Defence Mr. David Williams and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Gwyn Jenkins, yesterday in London. Among the topics the leaders discussed were U.S. and UK strategic guidances, Euro-Atlantic security, Indo-Pacific security, and the AUKUS trilateral partnership.
The dialogue also included discussion of the UK Integrated Review Refresh, U.S. National Defense Strategy, and Joint Warfighting Concept. The leaders addressed the acute threat Russia poses — evidenced by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine — as well as sustaining and strengthening deterrence and the U.S. National Defense Strategy's focus on the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the United States' pacing challenge.
Deputy Secretary Hicks noted that the US and UK share an approach to confront Russian aggression while working to address the challenges posed by the PRC.
She also reiterated the priority that the U.S. Department of Defense places on close, continued collaboration with Allies and partners. She also emphasized the importance of these relationships to our collective ability to address shared security concerns.
"We're supporting our Indo-Pacific allies and partners as they invest in their own strength, in their relationships with each-other, and in their relationships with the U.S.," said Deputy Secretary Hicks. "The game-changing AUKUS initiative is a key part of our work on deepening our alliances and partnerships across the region."
The leaders also discussed efforts to increase defense industry production and implementation of the AUKUS trilateral partnership, to include export controls and information sharing.
Deputy Secretary Hicks noted that the 2022 National Defense Strategy highlighted the importance of a robust and resilient Defense Industrial Base, which is being addressed via the National Defense Industrial Strategy- a framework for DoD action and engagement to build a robust, resilient, and modernized Defense Industrial Base.
All leaders committed to deepening the U.S.-UK special relationship and continuing to make progress toward addressing shared concerns.
The last U.S.-UK defense dialogue was held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2023
