and contributing to coalition operations in Afghanistan and UN peacekeeping operations. I was proud to host my Mongolian counterpart at the Pentagon earlier this year.
We continue to meet our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act to make defense articles and defense services available to Taiwan for its self－defense.
This support empowers the people of Taiwan to determine their own future. We maintain that any resolution of differences across the Taiwan Strait must occur in the absence of coercion and accord with the will of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Last week at the Pentagon, I hosted the Presidents of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands – who also met with President Trump at the White House – for substantive discussions on furthering our unique relationships. I appreciate the important role the Freely Associated States play in enforcing sanctions against North Korea, upholding a free and open Indo－Pacific, and enabling U.S. regional presence.
So, from our tri－lateral relationships with Australia, Japan, and South Korea; to our work with Thailand co－organizing the ASEAN－U.S. Maritime Exercise scheduled for this September; we are building an interconnected Indo－Pacific.
And while America works with allies within the region, we also leverage our global alliances on behalf of Indo－Pacific security. We welcome leadership from France, Canada, and the United Kingdom on asserting navigational rights and upholding the international rule of law. We also thank Germany and Spain for helping to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions on North Korea.
All this brings us together – we are building a cooperative, regional security network that supports common goals – whether |
