America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Today, our Nation commemorates the 84th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, honoring the brave Americans and Australians who joined forces to turn the tide of World War II in the Pacific against tyranny. Through their shared sacrifice and courage, an enduring bond was forged between our peoples-one that has weathered the trials of history and remains a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

For 4 grueling days in the Coral Sea, Americans and Australians fought alongside one another, launching relentless air strikes against the invasion fleet. It was the first ever carrier-to-carrier naval engagement in military history, with opposing fleets never seeing or firing directly on one another but rather carrying out the mission from the sky. After enduring days of intense combat, Allied forces struck with precision, halting a major enemy advancement through the Pacific Theatre and delivering a critical blow to its naval strength, ultimately paving the way for the decisive victory at Midway a month later.

Out of the ashes of that hard-won triumph emerged an alliance between the United States and Australia that remains stronger than ever before-and my Administration is fully committed to deepening our strategic partnership in the years to come. Last October, I was proud to secure a landmark agreement with Australia to expand our shared access to rare earth and critical minerals-an essential component of America's ability to deter threats, confront our adversaries, and secure our economic prosperity for generations to come.

As we reflect on this solemn anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, we honor the unwavering grit of our service members and remember those heroes who willingly laid down their lives in the defense of freedom. Standing shoulder to shoulder with our Australian partners, we will continue to champion the cause of peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific, ushering in a new Golden Age of security and prosperity for our Nation and our allies around the world.