Tag Archives: Pentagon
Pentagon walks back claim Richard Marles didn’t meet with Pete Hegseth
The Pentagon has walked back suggestions the Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, did not meet his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, adding to confusion about his visit to the White House this week.
American officials initially denied Marles had a formal meeting with Hegseth during a last-minute trip to Washington, casting doubt on the federal government’s account of the visit.
But as Albanese government ministers faced questions on Thursday morning, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, told Guardian Australia the pair did meet.
“Secretary Hegseth welcomed the opportunity to meet in person with deputy prime minister Marles for the third time this year,” Parnell said.
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“Their meeting at the White House on Tuesday was coordinated in advance.”
On Sunday, Marles announced he would visit Washington and “meet with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other senior...
