PM meets Carter at the Pentagon

Malcolm Turnbull has been ceremonially welcomed to the Pentagon after arriving in the US capital.

The prime minister is holding a meeting with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday morning (local time) following his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

He was welcomed to the headquarters of the US defence department with a rendition of the Australian and US national anthems, afterwards going up to praise the military band.

Mr Turnbull was joined by Australia's ambassador to Washington, former treasurer Joe Hockey.