'Indo-Pacific is our priority,' says US defense chief in Fiji visit to boost ties
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a strong partnership with Fiji is critical for a free Indo-Pacific on Saturday, November 23, saying the region was a "priority" for Washington.
In a joint press conference with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Austin announced an agreement for logistics cooperation between their forces. It includes $4.9 million in military financing pending US Congress approval.
Austin is on a tour of the Indo-Pacific where he seeks to strengthen ties between nations in the region and the US, seeing stops in the Philippines and Australia.
Austin's visit to the region comes as China builds its influence in the Pacific. China and the nearby Solomon Islands have signed a security pact, sparking concerns among some Western-aligned nations.
DVIDS/REUTERS
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