India, US to expand military and defence ties

(20 Mar 2021) Top defense officials from India and the United States pledged Saturday to expand their mutual defense ties.
Both countries are concerned over China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met in New Delhi and agreed to deepen military cooperation, intelligence sharing and logistics.
"India, in particular, is an increasingly important partner amongst today's rapidly shifting International dynamics. And I reaffirmed our commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach to the region," Austin said.
Austin is making the first visit to India by a top member of President Joe Biden's administration.
His visit follows a meeting last week between leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States, which together make up the four Indo-Pacific nations known as the Quad.
The Quad is seen as a counterweight to China, which critics say is flexing its military muscle in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and along its northern border with India.
China has called the Quad an attempt to contain its ambitions.
Austin arrived in New Delhi on Friday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The timing of Austin's visit, which follows talks between high-ranking U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska amid a bitter exchange of words, signals the importance Biden places on New Delhi as a security ally.
More recently, India drew closer to the U.S. following its months-long military standoff with China along their disputed border in eastern Ladakh, where deadly clashes erupted last year.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have eased after the two countries pulled back troops from one area of contention.

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