AUSMIN is the principal forum for bilateral consultations with Australia. Held annually, alternating between Australia and the United States, it brings the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense together with the Australian Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for Defense, along with senior officials from both countries.
The Consultations provide a major opportunity to discuss and share perspectives and approaches on major global and regional political issues, and to deepen bilateral foreign security and defense cooperation.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Secretary Clinton greet Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, second from left, and Australian Minister of Defense Stephen Smith, far left, at the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations at the Presidio in San Francisco, Calif., Sept. 15, 2011. © DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey
