Washington - US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin is set to arrive in India on an official visit on Sunday, marking the third leg of his four-nation tour. He will depart from Singapore and reach New Delhi to meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, with the aim of expanding defense-industrial partnership between the two countries.
The visit holds particular significance as it comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to the White House in June. Prior to his visit to India, Secretary Austin attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders in Tokyo. He also visited US troops stationed in Japan.
In Singapore, Secretary Austin addressed the plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue and held key bilateral meetings to strengthen US partnerships across the region.
During his visit to New Delhi, Secretary Austin will focus on advancing defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives between the US and India, as well as expanding operational cooperation between their respective militaries. The Pentagon highlighted the importance of this visit in modernizing the US-India Major Defense Partnership.
Speaking about his upcoming tour, Secretary Austin expressed his anticipation, saying, "I look forward to traveling to Japan, Singapore, India, and France next week. We've made groundbreaking progress over the past year alongside our allies and partners towards advancing our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific."
In a significant development prior to Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US, a powerful Congressional Committee has recommended strengthening NATO Plus by including India. This step is aimed at countering China in the strategic competition. The committee proposed the inclusion of India in the five-member grouping, which currently comprises NATO and five aligned countries.
Secretary Austin will conclude his four-nation trip in France, where he will participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day and meet with French and United Kingdom defense leaders.