U.S. – Australia Relations

Minister for Defence Visit to the US

Canberra — 6 July 2008

MIN77/08

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, will visit the US from 6 to 16 July 2008, taking in Hawaii, Texas, New York and Washington.

The purpose of the Minister’s visit is to reaffirm the strength of Australia’s bilateral relationship with the US and to advance Australia’s security, defence and foreign policy interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

In Hawaii, the Minister will attend roundtable discussions and meet with the Commander of the US Pacific Command, whom he met with during the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations in Canberra earlier this year. The Minister will also visit HMAS Waller, a Royal Australian Navy Collins Class submarine and the ANZAC class frigate, HMAS ANZAC, which are part of Australia’s fleet participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), a combined and joint exercise of 10 nations in the Pacific region.

In Texas, the Minister will visit Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

In New York, the Minister will meet with United Nations officials to discuss Australia’s relationship and roles in the global arena. The Minister will also attend roundtable talks with a number of prominent think tanks and academics.

In Washington, the Minister will be making a number of calls on senior members of the US Administration, including the US Vice President, Dick Cheney; the US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates; and a number of US Congressmen. Discussions will be centered around the Australia-US alliance, defence and strategic matters, and cooperation in promoting peace, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Minister will also be giving an address at the Brookings Institution, a private non-profit organisation devoted to independent research and innovative policy on global emerging issues.

Original document from www.minister.defence.gov.au.

Last update: Tuesday, 15 July 2008 GMT+1000