US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III arrived in India for a three-day visit on March 19, 2021. This is the first visit by a top Biden administration official to India.
Delhi: US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III arrives in India on a three-day visit. He will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit. pic.twitter.com/GM18ArIMJC
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2021
Lloyd J Austin tweeted saying, "Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region."
Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. pic.twitter.com/0wA88ERrDn
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) March 19, 2021
Shortly after his arrival in the national capital, the US Secretary of Defense called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, Secretary Austin conveyed greetings of President Biden to the Prime Minister, while PM Modi welcomed the warm & close relationship between the two nations.
PM Modi outlined his vision for a strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasized on the important role of bilateral defence cooperation in India-US ties. He further requested Secretary Austin to convey his best wishes to US President Joe Biden.
Secretary Austin also reiterated the US Govt’s continued commitment towards strengthening bilateral defence relations between the two nations. He also expressed US’ strong desire to further enhance strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Secretary Austin reiterated the US Govt’s continued commitment towards strengthening bilateral defence relations b/w the 2 countries. He expressed US’ strong desire to further enhance strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2021
Following the meeting, PM Modi tweeted saying that it was a pleasure to meet the US Defence Secretary. He said that he has conveyed his best wishes to President Biden and added that India and US are committed to their strategic partnership that is a force for global good.
Pleasure to meet U.S. @SecDef Lloyd Austin today. Conveyed my best wishes to @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and US are committed to our strategic partnership that is a force for global good. pic.twitter.com/Z1AoGJlzFX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2021
Meeting with NSA Ajit Doval
•The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III later met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
•During the meeting, both discussed areas of mutual interest, strategic partnership and cooperation on various aspects of security and defence.
Delhi: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval today pic.twitter.com/K04YN3jIgN
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2021
•US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III also commended on India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific and growing engagement with like-minded partners to promote shared goals.
•The two nations reiterated their commitment to promote free & open regional order.
•They also exchanged perspectives on shared challenges confronting the region.
•They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their broad-ranging and robust defence cooperation.
Both sides exchanged perspectives on shared challenges confronting the region & committed to further strengthen their broad-ranging & robust defence cooperation: US Embassy in India (2/2)
— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2021
•The Indian defence ministry said that the US Defence Secretary's visit to India as part of his first overseas travel emphasises the strength of the India-US strategic partnership.
Meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
The US Defence Secretary also met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the visit. During the meeting, both the leaders discussed on a range of issues with a focus on enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging domains of defence, mutual logistics support, and expanding military-to-military engagements across services.
We discussed today a range of issues with a focus on enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging domains of defence, mutual logistics support, and expanding military-to-military engagements across services.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
The Defence Minister tweeted saying, "Had an excellent meeting in New Delhi with my US counterpart, Mr. Lloyd J. Austin on ways to strengthen India-US defence partnership." He stated that the India-US partnership in the field of Defence has acquired the dimensions of strategic partnership in the last decade.
Had an excellent meeting in New Delhi today with my US counterpart, @SecDef Mr. Lloyd J. Austin on ways to strengthen India-US defence partnership.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
The India-US partnership in the field of Defence has acquired the dimensions of strategic partnership in the last decade. pic.twitter.com/W0rtna63D1
The Minister further tweeted saying that they are determined to expand India-US cooperation - from bilateral and multilateral exercises to developing closer bilateral linkages and intend to pursue enhanced cooperation between the Indian military and US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.
We are determined to expand India-US cooperation - from bilateral and multilateral exercises to developing closer bilateral linkages.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
We intend to pursue enhanced cooperation between the Indian military and US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.
Singh also tweeted saying that they both agreed that there are opportunities for collaboration in defence industry and that the recent and first Leaders' Summit of India, USA, Japan and Australia has emphasized their resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
We both agreed that there are opportunities for collaboration in defence industry. The recent and first Leaders' Summit of India, USA, Japan and Australia has emphasized our resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
The two leaders further reaffirmed that closer India-US cooperation in partnership with countries keen to uphold rules-based order, can promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Today we reaffirmed that closer India-US cooperation in partnership with countries keen to uphold rules-based order, can promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
The US Department of Defence said in a statement on March 20, 2021 that "India is a key pillar in US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region and the India-US relationship could be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century."
The US Defence Secretary also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the second half on March 20th. The EAM tweeted saying that they held a wide-ranging conversation on the global strategic situation and that he looks forward to working with him on enhancing the Strategic Partnership of the two nations.
Welcomed US @SecDef Lloyd Austin at MEA. A wide-ranging conversation on the global strategic situation. Look forward to working with him on enhancing our Strategic Partnership. pic.twitter.com/ViDSLAQgpq
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 20, 2021
Background
•The US Defence Secretary is on a three-day visit to India starting from from March 19 to March 21st. He will be meeting the top political and military leadership of the country during the visit.
•India and the United States have been working closely together after China's military transgressions to change the status quo in the eastern Ladakh area in May 2020.
•The United States also helped India by providing timely defence hardware supplies during the conflict besides sharing important satellite feed and inputs.
•Another major area of focus for both India and the US has been the Indo-Pacific region, which is an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean including the South China Sea.
•China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean have been seen as actions to challenge the established rules-based system in the region.
•Many countries including India, the US, France and Australia attempted to re-establish a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region and thwart China's advances.
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