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The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met yesterday at the Pentagon with Lieutenant General Fructueux Gbaguidi, Chief of the Defence Staff of Benin

Aug. 26, 2026

Readout of Bilateral Engagement with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney and the Chief of the Defence Staff of Benin

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney met yesterday at the Pentagon with Lieutenant General Fructueux Gbaguidi, Chief of the Defence Staff of Benin, to reaffirm the strong and enduring security partnership between the United States and Benin. During their discussion, General Mahoney expressed his deep appreciation for the long-standing bilateral relationship, highlighting the critical joint initiatives and security assistance executed through U.S. Africa Command.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, General Yousef Hnaity, at the Pentagon on 22 July 2026. During their engagement, the leaders discussed pressing regional security developments and joint efforts to counter malign regional actors.

July 29, 2026

Readout of Bilateral Engagement with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney and the Chief of Defense of the Slovenian Armed Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney met with the Chief of Defense of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Boštjan Močnik, at the Pentagon on July 29. During their engagement, the leaders discussed shared transatlantic security priorities, including regional stability in the Western Balkans. The leaders also Slovenia's strategic position as a critical bridge between Central Europe and the Western Balkans.

July 22, 2026

Readout of Bilateral Engagement with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Christopher J. Mahoney met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, General Yousef Hnaity, at the Pentagon on 22 July 2026. During their engagement, the leaders discussed pressing regional security developments and joint efforts to counter malign regional actors.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered a virtual keynote address from the Pentagon to launch the 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD) in Luanda, Angola. Mirroring the opening charge from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Gen. Mahoney urged the gathered senior military leaders to engage in frank, direct dialogue to address the highly interconnected, multi-domain, and transnational threats facing the continent. He emphasized that because modern adversaries—including violent extremist organizations and trans-national criminal organizations—operate across fluid borders, partner nations must move beyond polite formalities and actively build unified, connected response networks to safeguard regional stability and enable long-term economic prosperity.

June 30, 2026

Readout: Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Addresses 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered a virtual keynote address from the Pentagon to launch the 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD) in Luanda, Angola. Mirroring the opening charge from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Gen. Mahoney urged the gathered senior military leaders to engage in frank, direct dialogue to address the highly interconnected, multi-domain, and transnational threats facing the continent. He emphasized that because modern adversaries—including violent extremist organizations and trans-national criminal organizations—operate across fluid borders, partner nations must move beyond polite formalities and actively build unified, connected response networks to safeguard regional stability and enable long-term economic prosperity.

General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Lieutenant General (Dr.) Nicole Schilling, Vice Chief of Defense of the German Ministry of Defense, at the Pentagon, 4 June 2026. The leaders discussed the enduring strength of the U.S.-Germany bilateral alliance, which serves as a cornerstone of NATO cohesiveness and transatlantic security. They emphasized the importance of the partnership in enhancing deterrence, confronting increasing threats from autocracies, and defending the international rules-based order.

June 4, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting with Lieutenant General (Dr.) Nicole Schilling, German Vice Chief of Defense

WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Lieutenant General (Dr.) Nicole Schilling, Vice Chief of Defense of the German Ministry of Defense, at the Pentagon, 4 June 2026. The leaders discussed the enduring strength of the U.S.-Germany bilateral alliance, which serves as a cornerstone of NATO cohesiveness and transatlantic security.

Four men stand side-by-side posing for a photo in front of a blue backdrop with repeating circular logos for the Ministry of National Defence of Poland. From left to right: Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, wearing a dark suit and striped tie; General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, in an olive-drab Polish army uniform; General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an olive-drab U.S. Marine Corps uniform; and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish Minister of National Defence, wearing a dark suit with a blue tie. The United States flag, the Polish flag, and the NATO flag stand behind them.

May 20, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Meeting with Polish Defence Leadership

WARSAW, Poland — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Thomas Rose, U.S. Ambassador to Poland, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, as well as General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, during a visit to Poland, 20 May 2026.

General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Australian Chief of Navy, at the Pentagon, 1 May 2026. The leaders discussed the enduring strength of the U.S.-Australia alliance, which for more than 70 years has advanced shared security interests and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized the importance of the alliance—anchored in the ANZUS Treaty—in enhancing deterrence, accelerating defense innovation, and ensuring interoperability across domains.

May 1, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Australian Chief of Navy

WASHINGTON, D.C — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Australian Chief of Navy, at the Pentagon, 1 May 2026. The leaders discussed the enduring strength of the U.S.-Australia alliance, which for more than 70 years has advanced shared security interests and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized the importance of the alliance—anchored in the ANZUS Treaty—in enhancing deterrence, accelerating defense innovation, and ensuring interoperability across domains.

March 25, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting with General Michael Claesson, Swedish Chief of Defence

WASHINGTON, D.C — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with General Michael Claesson, Swedish Chief of Defence, at the Pentagon, 25 March 2026. The leaders discussed support to Ukraine and key lessons learned, emphasizing resilience, interoperability, and rapid adaptation, as well as the need to strengthen their respective defense industrial bases.

General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Jónas G. Allansson, Iceland Chief of Defence, to reinforce the strategic partnership between our two nations at the Pentagon, 10 March 2026.

March 10, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting with Jónas G. Allansson, Iceland Chief of Defence

WASHINGTON, D.C — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Jónas G. Allansson, Iceland Chief of Defence, to reinforce the strategic partnership between our two nations at the Pentagon, 10 March 2026.

General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Major General Sashko Lafchiski, Chief of the General Staff of North Macedonia, to reinforce the strategic partnership between our two nations. The leaders discussed the regional security environment, emphasizing that our alliance is fundamental to collective deterrence and regional stability.

Both leaders agreed that persistent, combined military activities and joint exercises are essential for building a combat-credible posture that effectively deters potential adversaries and counters malign influence across the region. The close defense cooperation between the United States and North Macedonia provides a distinct strategic advantage ensuring continued peace and stability in the Western Balkans and beyond.

March 6, 2026

Readout of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting with Major General Sashko Lafchiski, Chief of the General Staff of North Macedonia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Christopher J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Major General Sashko Lafchiski, Chief of the General Staff of North Macedonia, to reinforce the strategic partnership between our two nations.