Ahead Of PM Modi's White House Visit In June, US Defense Secretary To Visit India Next Week

United States' Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit New Delhi next week and meet with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

On Thursday (May 25), the Pentagon announced that Defense Secretary Austin will be visiting New Delhi, India, along with other countries, next week. The purpose of his visit is to meet Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders to discuss the modernization of the US-India Major Defense Partnership.

In its official announcement, the Pentagon stated that the visit presents a chance to hasten fresh defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives, and enhance operational collaboration between the American and Indian militaries.

As part of his seventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region, Austin will start his trip from Japan. He plans to meet the Japanese Defense Minister and other senior leaders and visit the US troops stationed in Tokyo. Austin will also speak at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore after traveling there.

During the Dialogue, the secretary will meet with influential leaders to promote US defense partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, aligned with ASEAN centrality, and in support of a free and open vision.

Austin will visit New Delhi after Singapore then conclude his trip in France, with events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day and meetings with French and UK defense leaders.

This comes amidst Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official State visit to the US from June 21-24, where he will be hosted by the US President Joe Biden at the White House.