Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks’ Meeting With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:
 
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks met today with UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps in London to discuss a range of bilateral defense issues.   
 
Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked Secretary Shapps for his country’s support, alongside the United States and other Allies, in rejecting terrorism and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, consistent with international humanitarian law and the Law of Armed Conflict. They discussed multilateral initiatives to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza. 
 
The Deputy Secretary reiterated U.S. support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression will continue. She thanked the UK for its substantial security assistance to Ukraine and close collaboration with the U.S. in ensuring Ukraine has the capabilities it needs in multiple areas.  
 
They also discussed AUKUS, while re-emphasizing that the trilateral agreement will make a positive contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing deterrence.
 
Deputy Secretary Hicks and Secretary Shapps agreed to continued cooperation to enhance the special defense relationship between the U.S. and UK.

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