'Indo-Pacific is our priority,' says US defense chief in Fiji visit to boost ties<br /><br />US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a strong partnership with Fiji is critical for a free Indo-Pacific on Saturday, November 23, saying the region was a "priority" for Washington.<br /><br />In a joint press conference with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Austin announced an agreement for logistics cooperation between their forces. It includes $4.9 million in military financing pending US Congress approval.<br /><br />Austin is on a tour of the Indo-Pacific where he seeks to strengthen ties between nations in the region and the US, seeing stops in the Philippines and Australia.<br /><br />Austin's visit to the region comes as China builds its influence in the Pacific. China and the nearby Solomon Islands have signed a security pact, sparking concerns among some Western-aligned nations.<br /><br />DVIDS/REUTERS<br /><br />Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe <br />Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net <br /> <br />Follow us: <br />Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook <br />Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram <br />Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter <br />DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion <br /> <br />Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital <br />Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters<br /> <br />Check out our Podcasts: <br />Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify <br />Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts <br />Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic <br />Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer <br />Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein<br /> <br />#themanilatimes<br />#worldnews <br />#unitednations<br />#fiji<br />
