US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

In Georgia, Austin will meet the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister to discuss the relationship between the 2 countries and strengthening of cooperation in the Black Sea. 

During meetings with Ukraine’s President and Defense Minister, Austin will discuss defense reform and Black Sea cooperation between Ukraine and its allies and partners. 

This will also be the main topic of meetings between the US Secretary of Defense and Romanian officials. He will also visit US forces at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.

In Belgium, Austin will attend the first in-person meeting of NATO Defense Ministers, where he will meet with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and other counterparts to strengthen the US commitment to the NATO alliance.