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Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds has touched down in the US for the first time since she took on the role.
Minister Reynolds will be in Washington, DC, for most of the next week to look to build on the Australia-US Ministerial Consultation Meeting (AUSMIN) held in Sydney in August, as well as discussing how to strengthen and deepen the two nations' practical defence engagement.
"I look forward to again meeting my counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, to discuss our respective Indo-Pacific strategies and opportunities to increase co-ordination; celebrate the successes of the 2019 US Force Posture Initiatives; and progress science and technology, capability and industry co-operation," Minister Reynolds said.
"During the trip, I will also meet with senior US Defense and National Security officials, Secretary of Navy Richard Spencer, as well as congressional members from the House and Senate armed services committees.
"At the Hudson Institute, I will outline the Australian perspective of the security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, and how the alliance can be best postured to address them.
"There is no deeper friendship than that which exists between Australia and the United States, and as the Indo-Pacific region evolves and faces new challenges, our alliance is more vital than ever".
It comes just over a month after Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended the US for a formal state visit.
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