David Herndon, a spokesman for the US Department of Defense, said on June 11 local time that Colin Kahl, the under secretary of defense for policy, will visit the USINDOPACOM and Japan and South Korea. Reaffirming “our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Colin Carr departed for the Indo-Pacific region on June 11. While in Hawaii, he plans to engage with senior US Indo-Pacific Command officials, conduct field visits, and meet with US military personnel.
While in South Korea, Colin Carr will meet with senior South Korean government officials and counterparts, visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, and participate in the US-South Korea joint exercises. According to the Pentagon, Karl’s visit to South Korea will highlight the significant progress the US-South Korea alliance has made in strengthening “extended deterrence” and that the US commitment to the defense of South Korea remains unbreakable.
During his visit to Japan, Carr plans to meet with senior Japanese government officials and counterparts. The discussions will focus on the historic steps taken to strengthen and modernize the US-Japan alliance, which will continue to serve as the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US Department of Defense said Carr’s visit reaffirmed the United States’ shared commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”