Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles in Washington for annual talks focused on Indo-Pacific security and countering China's growing influence. The discussions highlighted the strength of the alliance between the United States and Australia, with both sides emphasizing cooperation on critical minerals, defense production, and troop deployments. The AUKUS pact, which involves building an Australian fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology, was described as central to the partnership, with Australia committing additional funding to expand submarine production capacity.

While China was not mentioned directly, its actions in the region and its control over critical minerals remained a key concern. The leaders also touched on broader global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, and recent U.S. military strikes in the Western Hemisphere. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their alliance to ensure security and prosperity in a rapidly changing world.