US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to visit India next week, making him the first member of the Biden administration to travel to the country.
Austin’s visit will focus on the US-India Strategic Partnership, defence cooperation, and other regional security issues. The visit is part of the Biden administration’s broader efforts to reengage allies and partners around the world and build a policy of “forward defence”.
The Pentagon said Austin’s trip will include discussions with India’s defence leadership, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
He will also have the opportunity to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two-day visit is likely to include a trip to the Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii.