During his tenure, Austin routinely advised the president, the secretary of defense, and other national-level leadership on challenges afflicting the CENTCOM region, and directed U.S. and allied military response to multiple crises and operations.

[56] Like former defense secretary James Mattis,[57] Austin required a congressional waiver of the National Security Act of 1947 to bypass the seven-year waiting period after leaving active-duty military, as prescribed by 10 U.S.C.

It stated in part: As the Secretary of Defense, I am committed to ensuring that the Department develops the right people, priorities, and purpose of mission to continue to defend our Nation from enemies foreign and domestic.

[70] On January 1, 2024, Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications following a minimally invasive surgical procedure conducted on December 22, 2023, to address his prostate cancer (prostatectomy).

"[88] During a speech delivered at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain in November 2021, Austin said: "We do crucial work together with our friends in this [Middle East] region—to deter aggression from any quarter, to disrupt terrorist networks, and to maintain freedom of navigation in some of the world's most important waterways.

"[90] At the AIPAC Political Leadership Forum on January 10, 2023, Austin stated: "Going back to my days at CENTCOM, I have consistently said that the greatest threat to Israeli security, and to the region, is the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran.

We are investing in a modernized, over-the-horizon counterterrorism architecture to prevent future attacks on our citizens and the U.S. homeland, and we have proven our continued ability to remove the most threatening al-Qa'ida and ISIS operatives from the battlefield.

[94]On December 18, 2023, Austin announced the establishment of a multinational maritime task force, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to address attacks from Houthis in Yemen on commercial ships and other targets.

[96] In a statement issued on October 18, while he was on a trip to the Middle East, Austin said: “The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law.

Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.”[96] On October 16, 2024, Austin released a statement about a series of precision strikes conducted earlier that day by U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers against five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

"[103] On November 13, 2023, Defence for Children International, Al-Haq, and Palestinians living in Gaza and the United States, represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, filed a lawsuit against Austin, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for failure to prevent genocide, citing Israel's "mass killings," targeting of schools and hospitals, collective punishment, use of chemical weapons, forced expulsion, and blockage of food, water, electricity and other basic needs.

[127] The trip reflected the Biden administration's concerns about China's growing influence within the Indo-Pacific region, especially their military buildup during the pandemic, as well as North Korea's nuclear threat and the February 2021 coup d'état in Myanmar.

[128] The trip was also part of the Biden administration's "America is back" diplomatic theme, and Austin pledged the U.S.'s commitment to reaffirm ties with its allies and to maintain a robust military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

[127] Austin added that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains a top priority for the Biden Administration, and that the alliances with South Korea and Japan are among the most important tools the United States has in that regard.

Austin's visit came as the United States and Japan took important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan "2+2" Ministerial meeting earlier that year.

In a separate bilateral meeting with Secretary Teodoro, Austin welcomed the historic announcements from the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on Foreign Military Financing for the Philippines and the conclusion of a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap.

On the margins of ADMM Plus, Austin convened the first-ever meeting with defense leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea to discuss their shared commitment to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected.

[149] In a statement issued on September 15, 2023, marking the second anniversary of the establishment of AUKUS, Austin said: "I am incredibly proud of the tireless work of this department and our U.K. and Australian counterparts, and I am confident in the bright future of our historic partnership.

"[158] On August 12, 2021, following continued Taliban victories across Afghanistan, the Biden Administration announced that 3,000 U.S. troops would be deployed to Kabul Airport to evacuate embassy personnel, US nationals and Special Immigrant Visa applicants.

[163] In December 2021, Austin directed an independent After Action Review (AAR) be conducted to provide a detailed assessment of the Defense Department's implementation of US Afghanistan policy from January 2020 through August 2021.

The next day, the NATO Response Force was activated,[169] and the Biden administration authorized $350 million in military assistance from Defense Department inventories, including anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor, and related equipment.

[189] On September 19, 2023, at the 15th meeting of the UDCG, Austin said: Back in June, President Biden joined the leaders of the G7 in a joint declaration condemning, and I quote, "Russia's illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

[171][191] Contributing UDCG countries have supplied Ukraine with air defense, armor, artillery ammunition and, recently, F-16 fighter jets, and the group of nations has also trained thousands of Ukrainian service members in these new capabilities.

[187][191] During the 24th meeting of the UDCG on September 6, 2024, Austin noted: "As a percentage of [gross domestic product], a dozen of our allies actually contribute more to Ukraine's self-defense than the United States, and we continue to see impressive new security assistance commitments.

"[191] At an October 31, 2023 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Austin told lawmakers that supplemental aid is needed to help Ukraine continue to defend itself against Russia's ongoing aggression.

And only firm American leadership can ensure that tyrants, thugs and terrorists worldwide are not emboldened to commit more aggression and more atrocities.”[192] On November 20, 2023, Austin met with President Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov during an unannounced visit to Ukraine.

The package includes additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, antitank weapons and other materials to help Ukrainian forces defend their territory amid Russia's ongoing assault.

Since Putin started this war, this historic coalition has committed more than $87 billion in security assistance to Ukraine—including 15 U.S. allies that, as a percentage of GDP, contribute more to Ukraine's capability needs than the United States.

[196] On June 2, 2024, Austin met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Singapore on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue to reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

[199] In a joint press conference at the G7 Summit in Fasano, Italy, President Biden said of the agreement: “ Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.