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.