WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following transcript of a joint news briefing on Dec. 1, 2023, by Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and British Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honorable Grant Shapps:

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STAFF: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us for today's AUKUS Defense Ministers Joint Press Briefing.