Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participates in the Department of Defense Warrior Games zoom meeting from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2021. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON   –    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is traveling to Europe to reassure allies and partners of America’s commitment to their sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression, the Pentagon announced today. The Defense Secretary is scheduled to visit Georgia, Ukraine and Romania before attending the NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels.  Georgia and Ukraine have areas occupied by Russia. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia — roughly 20 percent of the nation. Ukraine is in conflict with Russia, and Russian forces have killed around 14,000 Ukrainians in and around the Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine since 2014. Russia also illegally annexed Crimea.   A senior defense official  said  the U.S. is  “reassuring and reinforcing”  the sovereignty of countries that are on the “frontlines of Russian aggression”.     Defense Secretary Austin will reinforce America’s commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance, the Pentagon said. 

“The Department of Defense steadfastly supports its European Allies and partners in the face of Russia’s destabilizing actions in the critical Black Sea region, and the Secretary looks forward to meeting with his counterparts and other senior officials to reinforce the United States’ commitment to a safe, stable, and prosperous Europe.”

-The Pentagon 

In Georgia, Secretary Austin will meet with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Minister of Defense Juansher Burchuladze to reaffirm U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscore the importance of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership in addressing regional and global security challenges.

In Ukraine, the Secretary will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Defense Andrii Taran to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The visit will also serve as an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s progress with the implementation of defense and defense industry reforms needed to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations as well as regional cooperation among Black Sea allies and partners, the Pentagon said. 

In Romania, Secretary Austin will meet President Klaus Iohannis and Minister of National Defense Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to our bilateral strategic partnership and NATO’s Eastern Flank, recognize Romania’s leadership in the Alliance on responsibility-sharing, and exchange views on Black Sea security issues and regional cooperation.  He will also visit rotational U.S. forces at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.

U.S. Defense Secretary To participate in his first in-person NATO Defense Ministerial

In Belgium, Secretary Austin will participate in his first in-person NATO Defense Ministerial where he will meet with his Allied counterparts and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.  Secretary Austin will focus on advancing NATO’s military adaptation and ensuring the Alliance is prepared for the challenges of the future.  He will reinforce the United States’ commitment to NATO and “highlight its role as the bedrock of Transatlantic security”.