US defense secretary hosts Australian counterpart

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, welcomes Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, left, before the start of their meeting at the Pentagon, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles to the Pentagon on Friday, after Australia made its first $500 million payment to the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal involving Washington, Canberra and London.