Road Trip

Deputy Secretary Ashton Carter's upcoming trip to Asia, slated to begin on March 17, will start with a stop in Japan, where he plans to "emphasize the steadfast U.S. commitment to the defense of the country," a Pentagon spokesman said today.

Next, Carter will travel to South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia, where he will participate in the 2013 Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD), the spokesman said.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Defense Department noted the trip would enable Carter to "continue U.S. defense consultations on a range of common security challenges" and reinforce ties with allies and partners in the region.