US defense chief Austin to visit the Philippines in November

MANILA, Philippines – United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be visiting Manila in the closing weeks of November to “advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces.”

The US Department of Defense made the announcement early Wednesday, November 13 (late November 12 in the US). Austin will also be visiting Australia and Fiji, as well as Laos to participate in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

This will be...