The Guardian:
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and the defense secretary, James Mattis, have described the US-Australian alliance as “rock solid” in the face of China’s economic and strategic expansion throughout the Indo-Pacific and President Donald Trump’s harsh treatment of other allies.
Pompeo and Mattis wrapped up two days of Ausmin talks with Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, and defence minister, Marise Payne, at California’s Stanford University on Tuesday.
“The US and Australia both know we can rely on each other,” Pompeo said at the event’s concluding press conference. Mattis added: “The US and Australia will walk the walk in the Indo-Pacific.”
