First black US defence secretary seeks to mend ties with Nato

Retired army-general Lloyd Austin, a trailblazer in his military career, scored many firsts as a black soldier.
Retired army-general Lloyd Austin, a trailblazer in his military career, scored many firsts as a black soldier.

WASHINGTON • Retired army-general Lloyd Austin has made history by becoming America's first black defence secretary, arriving at the Pentagon minutes after his Senate confirmation.

Mr Austin's first call as defence secretary with a foreign leader was with Mr Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), underscoring the importance the Biden administration places on the alliance.

Former president Donald Trump had strained Nato ties by regularly admonishing allies for not spending enough on defence and sought to punish Germany over a dispute by withdrawing US forces.

Mr Austin and President Joe Biden have repeatedly pledged to improve diversity in the US military - America's largest employer - which is largely white and male at the top, even though the lower ranks are diverse.

Mr Austin's immediate agenda will include issues that have vexed administrations for a generation, and some new ones. It includes an increasingly muscular China, an aggressive Russia, the protracted conflict in Afghanistan and a vague and looming threat of Iran.

After being sworn in, Mr Austin received his first intelligence briefing as Pentagon chief. He later chaired a meeting on the coronavirus pandemic with Defence Department leaders, many joining virtually, said the Pentagon.

The pandemic - and its death toll of more than 400,000 Americans - was the theme of Mr Austin's first message to members of the armed forces.

He noted the military's support to America's healthcare professionals and said: "You can expect that mission to continue."

Mr Austin, 67, has been a trailblazer for much of his professional career. As a lieutenant-colonel, he became the first black soldier to be named operations officer of the 82nd Airborne Division.

He was the first black soldier to command both an infantry division and Army Corps in combat; the first black officer to become vice-chief of staff of the army; and the first to lead the US Central Command, overseeing US military forces in the Middle East.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm him in a 93-2 vote in the 100-member Chamber.

Meanwhile, the US Senate Finance Committee on Friday unanimously approved Dr Janet Yellen's nomination as the first woman Treasury secretary, indicating that she will easily win full Senate approval, but Republicans called for her to work with them in developing economic policies.

The full Senate will vote on her nomination tomorrow.

REUTERS, NYTIMES

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 24, 2021, with the headline First black US defence secretary seeks to mend ties with Nato. Subscribe