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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan (out of frame) at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Dec. 5. AFP-Yonhap Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday highlighted the United States' network of alliances as a "great strategic advantage," and called for "strong" and "steady" American leadership as he seeks to cement the Biden administration's security policy legacy. Austin made the remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, amid expectations that after taking office on Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump would reorient U.S. foreign policy under his America First credo likely to affect ties with allies and America's global leadership role. The secretary stressed that U.S. allies and partners, including South Korea, are "huge force multipliers," as he enumerated major security challenges, including "malice" from North Korea, China's assertiveness and Russia's war in Ukraine, to name a few. "First, we know that our unmatched network of alliances and partnerships is one of America's great strategic advantages," Austin said in a keynote speech. He added: "In today's world, any policy of 'peace through strength' depends by definition on alliances. American power projection depends by definition on our friends abroad. And American security depends by definition on those who freely join us in common purpose." Ahead of Trump's return to the White House, concerns have lingered that his perceived transactional approach to allies and partners could be a source of tension at a time when a raft of global challenges call for closer security coordination with them. Austin said that America's rivals and foes look at its network of allies and partners "with envy," while warning that they want to "divide and weaken" the U.S., and split it off from its allies and partners. He also pointed out a growing alignment among potential adversaries. "Yes, autocrats may band together. But when Putin turns to North Korea for troops, it is not a sign of strength. It's an admission of weakness," he said. "Autocrats resort to partnerships of convenience. But America leads partnerships of conviction." Austin asserted the need for America to maintain robust global leadership, which he said rallies allies and partners for shared security. "Peace is not self-executing. Order does not preserve itself. And security does not flower on its own," he said. "The world built by American leadership can only be maintained by American leadership." He underscored that the troubles of the current times will "only grow worse without strong and steady American leadership." "And if we forfeit our position of responsibility, our rivals and foes will be glad to fill the vacuum," he said. The secretary took stock of progress in the Biden administration's efforts to address global security quandaries, while noting that four years ago before Biden took office, America faced a "moment of great challenge." "We face major national security challenges. That includes coercion and bullying from the People's Republic of China; imperial aggression from Putin's Russia; malice from Iran, North Korea and terrorist groups; and autocrats worldwide who believe that democracy is a thing of the past," he said. "But we have stood up to Putin, stood up to North Korea, stood up to Iran, stood up to Hamas and Hizballah, and stood up to autocrats and thugs and bullies worldwide. We have stood up for American values and American leadership." He voiced hope that progress from the Biden administration will continue. "The baton will soon be passed. Others will decide the course ahead," he said. "And I hope that they will build on the strength that we have forged over the past four years." Austin attended the annual forum before he heads to Japan in his 13th trip to the Indo-Pacific. He had initially planned a visit to South Korea, but the Korea portion of the trip was canceled in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition. (Yonhap)Carrefour's cold shoulder for South American beef sparks a backlash from Brazil