U.S. defense secretary to travel to Gulf countries next week

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discusses the end of the military mission in Afghanistan during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., September 1, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait next week, the Pentagon said on Friday, in a "thank you" tour for allies and troops that helped in the massive U.S.-led airlift from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

Austin planned to leave on Sunday and meet with regional officials as well as U.S. service members and other government staff.