US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to make his first visit to India

According to the Pentagon, his visit will give major focus on "advancing cooperation between our countries for a free, prosperous and open Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean Region."

 

Announcing his visit on Twitter, the US defense secretary said, "I'll then travel to India to meet with my counterpart, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior national security leaders to discuss deepening the US-India Major Defense Partnership and advancing cooperation between our countries."

 

 

During the visit, Secretary Austin will meet with his counterpart, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior national security leaders. Both the leaders are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges and common interests in maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Austin and Rajnath Singh earlier held talks in January, with a major focus on the Indo-Pacific vision.

 

 

 

This is the first in-person visit by an official of the Joe Biden administration to India and comes just two months after the new US president took charge.

 

It should be noted that both countries have increased their cooperation in the defense sector. India has signed many pacts with the US in recent years. In 2018, India and the US had signed a pact called COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India. India has also signed the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), signed in December 2019 that allows for the transfer of technologies in support of defense production.

 

Last year during the 2+2 dialogue meet, both the nations had signed a total of five agreements including, (BECA) Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. BECA has given India India access to classified geospatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications from the US. The two countries also signed in October 2020 an agreement on Navy-to-Navy Information Sharing.

 

Apart from this, India has also substantially increased its acquisition of US defence equipment. In February, India agreed to acquire Apache and MH-60R multi-mission helicopters worth USD3.1 billion and is considering other US systems.

 

His visit announcement has come amid when leaders from India, the US, Japan, and Australia are all set to attend the first Quad meet on March 12. The global leaders will "discuss the ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and explore opportunities for collaboration in ensuring safe, equitable and affordable vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region.".

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