Pentagon chief to visit India, South Korea and Indonesia

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will go on a visit to the Indo-Pacific region next week, visiting India, South Korea and Indonesia, the Pentagon press service said.

In India, the US military chief will meet with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to discuss the expansion of defence-industrial cooperation and innovative development within the framework of the bilateral INDUS-X initiative.

Austin, along with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, will hold 2+2 talks with their Indian counterparts. Austin and Blinken will then meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Secretary Austin will then travel to the ROK (Republic of Korea) for meetings with Minister of National Defense Shin Wonsik and other senior ROK leaders, including the 55th annual Security Consultative Meeting and the inaugural ROK-UN Command Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting. He will also meet with US military commanders and service members on the Korean Peninsula, reaffirming the ironclad US extended deterrence commitment to the ROK.

Secretary Austin will then travel to Indonesia for the 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus. While in Jakarta, he will conduct an ASEAN-United States Informal Meeting to discuss opportunities to expand ASEAN-US security cooperation, one year after the elevation of the ASEAN-US relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He will also meet with regional counterparts to express the United States' deep commitment to working alongside allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.