Clinton, Gates to visit Australia for diplomatic, defense talks in November

Clinton, Gates going to Australia in November

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will head to Australia in November for strategic and security talks aimed at strengthening the alliance between the two nations.

Clinton and visiting Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd announced on Friday that the meetings would be held on Nov. 8. Clinton had been due to make her first visit to Australia as secretary of state in February but canceled those plans to coordinate the U.S. response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister, is in Washington before going to New York for next week’s U.N. General Assembly session.