America’s Defense Minister Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit India. Austin’s visit to India will be the first visit by a senior Cabinet Minister from the administration of President Joe Biden. India’s Ambassador to America Taranjit Singh Sandhu has informed about this. This is the first time that an American Defense Minister has chosen India as the first foreign trip. Significantly, India and the United States have increased participation in many areas including the military sector in recent times.
India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said, Defense Minister Lloyd Austin who will be the first senior cabinet minister under the Biden administration to visit India. This visit is a reflection of the importance that America has for India and the importance of our bilateral relations. Earlier, the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Ministry of Defense, had also told that Austin was going to visit India. The Pentagon said that the Defense Minister will also visit Japan and South Korea.
US Defence Secy Lloyd Austin is going to be the first senior cabinet minister visiting India (under Joe Biden presidency). This visit is a reflection of the importance which the US accords to India & the importance of our bilateral relationship: TS Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to US pic.twitter.com/OIPnkAl2a5
– ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2021
Strict attitude towards China
US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin is seen as a leader who has taken a tough stand towards China. Austin has said that China is adopting a ‘very aggressive’ attitude in the region and in some cases it is seen as an ‘attacker’. He said that China is busy modernizing its military and developing capabilities. He is trying to beat us in those competitions in which we have always been ahead.
Heads of Quad countries will meet again at the end of the year
At the same time, Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu said about the quad summit, there was a plan to convene this summit individually, but due to the epidemic this could not be possible. You must have seen in the joint statement that it has been indicated that the foreign ministers of the quad countries will meet. At the same time, by the end of this year, the leading leaders of the quad countries have made up their mind to meet together.
Quad meeting today Narendra Modi Yoshihide Suga Joe Biden Scott Morrison
PM Modi-President Biden’s relationship good
Regarding the relationship between Joe Biden and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the Indian Ambassador said, you have to remember 2014 and 2016, there was a good relationship between PM Modi and the then Vice President Joe Biden. In 2014 he hosted not only the luncheon but also the 2016 congressional session, where the then Vice President Biden presided.