<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles was saved from a diplomatic snub during his visit to Washington DC by a "happenstance" encounter with his US counterpart.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles was in the US capital this week to discuss key defence matters, including the AUKUS nuclear submarines deal, with top officials from the Trump administration.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His main goal was to hold talks with his direct US opposite - Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting-live-updates-latest-news-headlines-august-28/f7468db3-e8b6-45b9-92b0-16de670d2c26" rel="" target="_blank" title="Hunt for accused police killer enters third day"><strong><span>Hunt for accused police killer enters third day</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles posted photos on social media of his encounter with Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance in the White House on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) in Washington. He also met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But overnight 9News has been told by the Pentagon that Marles held no formal sit-down meeting with Hegseth, but instead had " a happenstance encounter".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles' official statement was carefully worded to avoid any mention of formal talks.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/defence-minister-richard-marles-happenstance-meeting-with-us-counterpart/32890483-4b72-4bb1-9787-627053c6b15e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio," it said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It goes on to say it was "fantastic" to "see" Hegseth again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-police-shooting-update/4c43bcf8-5d9d-4e79-8d74-407ea1ca4ab2"><strong><span>'That bloke could be anywhere': Porepunkah fears as night falls again</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A major goal behind Marles' visit to the US was to prop up the AUKUS agreement, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the US and Britain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In June, Hegseth announced the Pentagon was launching a review into the AUKUS agreement. There are concerns that the US will not provide Australia with its first Virginia-class submarine by the early 2030s as planned because American submarine building was behind schedule.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The submarines are expected cost Australia up to $380 billion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Trump administration is also pushing Australia to raise its defence spending, from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent, as the US seeks to meet China's military might in the Indo-Pacific.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>National Party Senator Bridget McKenzie told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span> this morning, securing a sit-down meeting with Hegseth was crucial for the Australian government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He [Marles] secures Vance, he secures Rubio. But the one guy he really wanted to sit down with, Secretary of Defence, was a no show."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>