The drills provide an opportunity to scrutinize the missiles China would use to drive off foreign militaries intervening in any future invasion.
The Biden administration's next security assistance package will be one of the largest so far, and could include munitions for long-range weapons and armored medical transport vehicles.
The CIA drone strike that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri relied on a perfect set of conditions, analysts say.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and U.S. allies have been increasingly willing to give Ukraine longer-range weaponry, including M777 howitzers, as Kyiv battles Russian forces.
The U.S. military has canceled a test of its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in a bid to lower nuclear tensions with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
The first six days of Russia's assault on Ukraine have confounded expectations and seen Moscow act far more delicately with its air power.
Austin said he planned to attend meetings virtually when possible and he would retain all authorities in running the Defense Department and overseeing military activities around the world.
Launching airstrikes against large equipment like helicopters has not been ruled out, but the main goal at the moment is evacuating people.
The agreement has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China.
Lloyd Austin will seek to emphasize the importance Washington places on fortifying ties in the region while pushing back against China.
