August 31, 2026
VICTORIA, British Columbia — OCJCS Spokesperson Joe Holstead provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with Australian Chief of the Defence Force Adm. Mark Hammond on Aug. 31 during the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The leaders discussed the enduring strength of the U.S.-Australia Alliance and efforts to strengthen regional deterrence, readiness, and interoperability, emphasizing the importance of translating defense investments into fielded capability, strengthening combined logistics, and deepening defense industrial cooperation.