Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks' Virtual Meeting With U.K. Permanent Under Secretary of Defence David Williams

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks met with Permanent Under Secretary of Defence David Williams via secure video teleconference today to coordinate on a range of bilateral issues, to include cooperative efforts toward ongoing security assistance to Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary Hicks commended U.K. leadership for its contributions to Ukraine, and committed to continue working closely together to support Ukraine's future needs.

The two leaders also discussed each country's defense industrial base, the status of the AUKUS trilateral partnership, and efforts to deepen cooperation and information sharing between the three partners.

Deputy Secretary Hicks and Permanent Under Secretary Williams both said they look forward to future conversations, to include the next U.S.-U.K. Defense Dialogue, and expressed their commitment to deepening the U.S.-U.K. defense and security relationship.