Rajnath Singh to Visit Washington for Strategic Talks with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced his upcoming visit to Washington, where he will meet with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. The visit, scheduled from August 23 to 26, 2024, aims to discuss areas of strategic interest and strengthen defence cooperation between India and the United States.
Rajnath Singh shared his excitement on social media, stating, “Leaving for Washington. India and the United States share a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Looking forward to meet my friend @SecDef Austin. Will discuss areas of strategic interests, while seeking to strengthen defence cooperation.”
During his visit, Singh will also meet with Jake Sullivan, the US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The Ministry of Defence highlighted that this visit comes amid growing momentum in India-US relations and defence engagements at multiple levels.
The visit is expected to deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Singh will chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry to discuss ongoing and future defence collaborations. He will also interact with the Indian community during his visit.
Earlier, on August 17, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma in Delhi. They discussed the continuing momentum in bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues. Jaishankar also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tokyo on July 29, where they had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues.
Doubts Revealed
Rajnath Singh -: Rajnath Singh is India’s Defence Minister. He is responsible for the country’s defense and military matters.
Washington -: Washington is the capital city of the United States of America. It is where the US government is based.
US Defence Secretary -: The US Defence Secretary is the head of the Department of Defense in the United States. Lloyd Austin is the current Defence Secretary.
Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership -: This is a special relationship between India and the US where they work closely together on important global issues like security and trade.
US National Security Advisor -: The US National Security Advisor is a top official who advises the President on national security issues. Jake Sullivan is the current advisor.
roundtable -: A roundtable is a meeting where people discuss important topics. In this case, Rajnath Singh will talk with people from the US defense industry.
bilateral relations -: Bilateral relations are the connections and interactions between two countries. Here, it refers to the relationship between India and the US.