Focus on expansion of strategic, security ties
NEW DELHI, March 19: In the first visit by a top Biden administration official, US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin arrived in India on Friday on a three-day visit, aimed at further boosting bilateral defence and security ties in the wake of China’s growing military assertiveness in the region, including in the Indo-Pacific.
India is the third stop for Austin during his three-nation first overseas tour as the Defence Secretary, and the visit is seen as a reflection of the Joe Biden administration’s strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the region. The US Defence Secretary visited Japan and South Korea before India.
The US official was received at the Palam airport by senior Indian military officials and diplomats from the American embassy.
Ways to further accelerate India-US strategic ties, boosting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, China’s aggressive behaviour in eastern Ladakh, challenge of terrorism and the Afghan peace process are expected to be focus of the talks between the two sides, people familiar with Austin’s visit said.
They said India’s plan to procure around 30 multi-mission armed Predator drones from the US for the three services at an estimated cost of over $ 3 billion is also expected to figure in the talks.
The medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) Predator-B drones, manufactured by US defence major General Atomics, are capable of remaining airborne for around 35 hours and can hunt down targets at land and sea, they said.
India’s plan to acquire 114 fighter jets at a cost of around $ 18 billion could also figure in the talks as American defence majors – Boeing and Lockheed -Martin – are eyeing it, the people said.
Secretary Austin is scheduled to meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday evening, while he will have extensive talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday. He is also likely to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Before his departure on Sunday, Austin is likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His visit to India came days after the top leadership of the Quad grouping of India, the US, Japan and Australia vowed to expand their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. – PTI
