In an official statement released by the US Department of Defence, it has been announced that United States Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III will embark on a four-nation trip, which includes a significant stop in India. The visit underscores the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
Secretary Austin's journey will commence with a visit to Tokyo, Japan, where he will engage in meetings with Japanese Defence Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other esteemed leaders. Additionally, he will have the opportunity to interact with US troops stationed in Japan. The visit to Japan comes as the US and Japan jointly focus on enhancing alliance capabilities, optimizing US force posture, and strengthening ties with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan "2+2" Ministerial meeting held earlier this year.
Next on the itinerary is Singapore, where Secretary Austin will deliver pivotal remarks at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). During his time in Singapore, he will engage in discussions with key leaders on the sidelines of the dialogue, with the aim of advancing US defence partnerships in the region. These partnerships are crucial for the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, firmly anchored in ASEAN centrality.
The highlight of Secretary Austin's trip will be his visit to India. In New Delhi, he is scheduled to meet with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other prominent leaders. This visit underscores the ongoing efforts to modernize the US-India Major Defence Partnership. It will provide an opportunity to foster new defence innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives while further expanding operational collaboration between the United States and Indian militaries.
Secretary Austin's four-nation journey will conclude with a visit to France, where he will participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day. During his time in France, he will also meet with French and United Kingdom defence leaders, emphasizing the significance of transatlantic alliances.
This multi-nation trip by US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III underscores the United States' commitment to strengthening relationships, fostering regional stability, and advancing strategic partnerships across the globe. The visit to India holds great importance as both countries seek to deepen their defence cooperation and enhance mutual interests.
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