Secretary of defence Lloyd J. Austin III is scheduled to embark on a crucial journey to India in the upcoming week. His primary objective during this visit is to engage in substantive discussions with his Indian counterpart, Minister of defence Rajnath Singh. The focal points of their deliberations will revolve around the expansion of defence industrial cooperation, the augmentation of interoperability, and the advancement of innovation through the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem, often referred to as INDUS-X.
The United States Department of Defence has outlined a comprehensive itinerary for this visit. In addition to the pivotal discussions between Secretary Austin and Minister Singh, the two dignitaries are poised to participate in the fifth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, an event of immense significance. He will be joined by Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, and Minister Singh will be accompanied by Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar. This high-level dialogue is anticipated to facilitate critical exchanges that pertain to strategic cooperation.
Post the Ministerial Dialogue, Secretaries Blinken and Austin are slated to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with India. This meeting with the Indian Prime Minister underscores the importance of bilateral relations in the global context.
Following his engagements in India, Secretary Austin’s journey will extend to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Indonesia, marking his ninth official visit to the Indo-Pacific region. In the ROK, he will convene meetings with Minister of National Defence Shin Wonsik and other senior ROK leaders. Among the noteworthy events during this leg of his trip are the 55th annual Security Consultative Meeting and the inaugural ROK-UN Command Member States Defence Ministerial Meeting. These discussions hold substantial implications for regional security and cooperation.
Secretary Austin’s itinerary also includes meetings with US military commanders and service members stationed on the Korean Peninsula. These encounters will serve to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the United States to extended deterrence for the ROK, further fortifying the bonds of security between the two nations. Additionally, while in Seoul, Secretary Austin will commemorate Veterans Day by meeting with soldiers who have played a pivotal role in upholding peace and security across the region over the decades.
The journey continues as Secretary Austin heads to Indonesia for the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus. During his time in Jakarta, he will preside over an ASEAN-United States Informal Meeting, aimed at exploring opportunities to enhance ASEAN-US security cooperation. This gathering is particularly significant as it occurs one year after the elevation of the ASEAN-US relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the course of his visit, Secretary Austin will also engage with regional counterparts, underlining the United States’ steadfast commitment to collaborating with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
This marks Secretary Austin’s fourth visit to the Indo-Pacific this year, an unequivocal testament to the enduring commitment of the United States and its allies in the region. Their collective efforts continue to drive forward a historic momentum towards realizing a shared regional vision of peace, stability, and prosperity. In an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape, these diplomatic endeavours are crucial in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific and fostering enduring partnerships that promote global peace and security.