Jaishankar holds talks with US Def Sec Austin & NSA

Leaders expected to have discussed situation in Indo-Pacific region

Washington, May 28: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Friday had a “warm meeting” with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin here during which they discussed further developing strategic and defence partnership between the two countries and exchanged views on “contemporary security challenges”.Mr Jaishankar, who is on an official trip to the US, is the first Indian Cabinet minister to visit the country since Joe Biden became US President on January 20.

Washington, May 28: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Friday had a “warm meeting” with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin during which they discussed further developing strategic and defence partnership between the two countries and exchanged views on “contemporary security challenges”.

Mr Jaishankar, who is on an official trip to the US, is the first Indian Cabinet minister to visit the country since Joe Biden became US President on January 20.

Earlier, on Thursday, he held wide-ranging discussions with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

“A warm meeting with US @SecDef Lloyd Austin. A comprehensive conversation about further developing our strategic and defence partnership,” Mr Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, sharing a photograph of them together.

He further said they exchanged views on “contemporary security challenges”.

The two leaders are expected to have discussed the situation in the strategic Indo-Pacific region where China has been increasingly flexing its military muscles.

Both India and the US have been advocating for a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia have already vowed to expand their cooperation in the IndoPacific amidst China's aggressive actions in the region.

The US has been favouring Quad as a security architecture to check China's growing assertiveness.

Mr Jaishankar also expressed appreciation of the US military role in responding to the coronavirus situation in India.