New Delhi: The United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, landed in New Delhi on Thursday, commencing his two-day visit for the forthcoming 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue scheduled for November 9–10.
#WATCH | US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin arrives in Delhi; received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
Austin will co-chair the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.… pic.twitter.com/Eu867fjyEs
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) November 9, 2023
Austin was welcomed by his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. During his arrival, he was honoured with a ceremonial guard of honour as a gesture of respect for the visiting US Secretary of Defence. Austin’s visit to India precedes his forthcoming trips to South Korea and Indonesia, marking his ninth visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
#WATCH | US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin being accorded the Guard of Honour at Palam airport, in Delhi #LloydAustin #Delhi pic.twitter.com/qk8v5Gyhhn
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) November 9, 2023
“Wheels up at @Andrews_JBA en route to India, the Republic of Korea, and Indonesia,” the Defence Secretary posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Wheels up at @Andrews_JBA en route to India, the Republic of Korea and Indonesia. My 9th visit to the Indo-Pacific comes as the U.S., along with our allies and partners, continue to make historic progress toward a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/7c6ov8egCC
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 8, 2023
“My 9th visit to the Indo-Pacific comes as the US, along with our allies and partners, continue to make historic progress toward a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.
Moreover, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also arrive in New Delhi tomorrow to participate in the 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, taking place on November 10 here in the national capital.
The dialogue will provide a platform for top-level discussions between the US and India, addressing critical bilateral and global matters, with special emphasis on developments unfolding in the Indo-Pacific region.
US State Secretary Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin will meet with their Indian counterparts, Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as well as other senior officials.
The discussions are expected to encompass a wide spectrum of issues, including strengthening bilateral relations, addressing global concerns, and promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a diplomatic summit held every year since 2018, with the Minister of External Affairs and the Defence Minister representing India and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence representing the United States. The discussions centre on common issues of concern between the two countries.