Defense Secretary Austin to meet with foreign officials, including Israel's Netanyahu

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday will depart on a trip abroad to visit with various government and military officials in Israel, Germany, NATO Headquarters in Belgium and the United Kingdom.

"Secretary Austin will meet with his counterparts and other senior officials to discuss the importance of international defense relationships, and reinforce the United States' commitment to deterrence and defense, burden sharing, and enduring trans-Atlantic security," according to the Defense Department.

The U.S. Pentagon chief will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Jewish State's Defense Secretary Benjamin Gantz.

When he heads to Germany Austin will spend time with German Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Chancellery Foreign and Security Policy Adviser Dr. Jan Hecker. "The Secretary will also visit U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command headquarters in Germany to meet with U.S. troops and senior commanders and highlight his vision for security interests in the region," according to the Pentagon.

Austin will see NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Belgium. The American defense secretary will finish his trip abroad by meeting with UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.