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	Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner's Meeting with Australian Deputy Secretary of Defence for Strategy, Policy, and Industry Hugh Jeffrey
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        <h1 class="title">Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner's Meeting with Australian Deputy Secretary of Defence for Strategy, Policy, and Industry Hugh Jeffrey</h1>
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    <div> <span class="date">/ Published April 10, 2024</span></div>
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    <p><span style="font-size:larger;">Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner met with Australian Deputy Secretary of Defence for Strategy, Policy, and Industry Hugh Jeffrey at the Pentagon today to discuss growing defense and security cooperation between the United States and Australia.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The two officials emphasized their commitment to further deepen defense cooperation, including through force posture initiatives and defense technology and industrial base collaboration between both countries.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The two officials also reviewed the progress that the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom have made to advance Pillar I and Pillar II of AUKUS – a partnership that will strengthen the three countries' combined military capabilities, boost collective defense industrial capacity, and promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">They affirmed the "Unbreakable Alliance" between the United States and Australia and committed to continue their cooperation with regional allies and partners toward a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.</span></p>
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