Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds an Off-Camera, On-the-Record Press Briefing

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: As you know, Secretary Austin returned from Hawaii early Saturday morning after a very productive trip. Now, while he was in Hawaii, he had the chance to meet with his counterparts from Australia and the Philippines for several bilateral and multilateral discussions which were all intended to deepen our security cooperation and strengthen alliances. He also presided over the INDOPACOM Change of Command on Friday. He had the opportunity on the margins of the ceremony to meet the leaders from the Freely Associated States, to include the president of the Republic of Palau, president of the Federated States of Micronesia and the foreign minister of the Republic of Marsha...