Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace for talks at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 11, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

By  Gary   Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON   DC   –  PENTAGON   –  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace Wednesday at the Pentagon to  reaffirm the U.S.-UK defense relationship amid the Ukraine conflict. 

“The US-UK relationship is strong and even more viable after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States and United Kingdom stand firmly in solidarity with Ukraine’s armed forces and its people. The world is in awe of their courage. And I’m proud to be working with you to help Ukraine defend their democracy.”  

-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 

The U.S. Defense Secretary thanked Wallace for the U.K.’s support and leadership.   Austin told Wallace during their meeting that the UK is a “leader among allies and partners”  in providing security aid to Ukraine.  “Mr. Secretary, I’d like to tell you that in my view, few countries have stepped up with security assistance to Ukraine the way that the U.K. has.  Your country is a leader among allies and partners in providing security to Ukraine; security aid to Ukraine,” Austin said. 

Wallace thanked Austin for his leadership of the effort to aid Ukraine and for America’s steadfast support and commitment to NATO allies. “Words and deeds matter,”  Wallace said. “Deeds matter more often than words.” 

“NATO is alive, well and united.”

  – UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace 

Wallace said many have criticized NATO in the past saying the alliance is outdated or unneeded but he begged to differ and thanked Austin for his leadership during the Ukraine crisis. 

“So on behalf of the United Kingdom, I want to thank you for that leadership.  It’s a leadership that has been at the heart of NATO, and people have criticized NATO in the last few years.  But I think response to this Russian invasion has shown that actually NATO is far from brain dead, NATO is alive, well, and united.