Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin Pentagon chief to visit Europe, Israel amid tensions with Russia and Iran Overnight Defense: US would consider sending warships to the Black Sea to support Ukraine | Intel community warns of fragile future Austin travels to Israel, Europe The Pentagon can send warships to the Black Sea in support of Ukraine MORE this week it will meet with key US allies in Europe and the Middle East amid US tensions with Russia and indirect nuclear talks with Iran.
Austin is to travel to Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom and NATO headquarters in Belgium.
Starting Saturday, Austin will meet with government and military leaders “to discuss the importance of international defense relations and to strengthen the United States’ commitment to deterrence and defense, burden-sharing and the sustainability of transatlantic security,” the Pentagon said in a statement. -a declaration. Thursday.
Austin will be the top Biden administration official to meet with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The three are expected to discuss “common priorities” and reaffirm the US commitment to Israel, maintaining its military superiority over other countries in the region, the Defense Department statement said.
In Germany, Austin will meet with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Chancellor’s Foreign Policy and Security Adviser Jan Hecker to discuss “combating the evil influence of our common strategic rivals” and the status of US forces stationed in Germany. .
Austin will then travel to Belgium to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss “how the Alliance is addressing Russia’s destabilizing behavior, growing China, terrorism and global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change.” .
The last stop will be in the UK, where Austin will meet with Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.
The Pentagon did not provide data on Austin’s stops in each country.
The trip takes place amid a series of fighting in the Middle East, as Israel aims to limit Iran’s military influence in the region.
Israel has attacked oil-carrying ships and Iranian weapons traveling through the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea in the past two years, while Iran has conducted its own attacks on Israeli-owned ships.
In the meantime, the first day of renewed discussions to bring Iran and the US back to the 2015 nuclear deal took place earlier this week, the most advanced move the Biden administration has taken as part of its efforts to return to the agreement known as the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan .
Austin’s journey also comes as Russia began gather troops and military equipment along Ukraine’s eastern border, a development Biden was “increasingly concerned about” as a White House press secretary Jen Psaki
Chief Jen PsakiPentagon to visit Europe, Israel amid tensions with Russia, Iran OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Intel community warns of fragile future shaped by pandemics, climate change | Haaland meets with Utah politicians and tribes as Biden weighs monument change | Administrator Biden could decide whether to take part in DAPL fight Exclusive: Biggs offers bill banning federal vaccination passports MORE he said on Thursday.