{"id":69239,"date":"2025-02-05T19:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T19:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2025\/02\/05\/hegseth-to-host-australian-leader-in-first-visit-with-a-foreign-peer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:30:41","slug":"hegseth-to-host-australian-leader-in-first-visit-with-a-foreign-peer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2025\/02\/05\/hegseth-to-host-australian-leader-in-first-visit-with-a-foreign-peer\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth to host Australian leader in first visit with a foreign peer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Australia\u2019s defense minister will visit the Pentagon on Friday, marking the first time U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet with a foreign counterpart, according to multiple people familiar with the planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister and defense minister of Australia, will arrive at a moment of uncertainty for U.S. allies. Over the last four years, America has deepened its military ties to partners across the Indo-Pacific in an effort to better compete with China. Nowhere has that been clearer than in Australia, where the United States has opened new basing agreements, expanded military drills and signed AUKUS, a deal to share nuclear-powered submarines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allies in the region are now wondering whether these commitments will last. Hegseth has made enforcing immigration his top priority in his first two weeks in office, sending around 2,000 more active-duty troops to America\u2019s border with Mexico and using military aircraft to deport migrants as far as India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some officials nominated to fill top policy positions in the Pentagon argue the U.S. needs a much more powerful military presence around Asia to contend with China\u2019s own military buildup. But others in leadership would prefer America reduce its commitments abroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t