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This is for the first time that India has been included in the itinerary in the first overseas trip of a US Defence Secretary.
“Austin will meet with his counterparts and other senior officials to discuss the importance of international defence relationships and reinforce the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region – founded on respect for international rules, laws, and norms,” the Pentagon said.
Austin will embark on his first overseas trip on March 13 to visit US Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii, US troops and senior government leaders in Japan and the Republic of Korea, and senior government leaders in India, it said.
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“In India, Secretary Austin will meet with his counterpart, Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, and other senior national security leaders to discuss deepening the US-India Major Defence Partnership and advancing cooperation between our countries for a free, prosperous and open Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean Region,” the Pentagon said.
In Japan, Austin will join US Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken for the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee (”2+2”), hosted by Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi, to emphasize that the US-Japan Alliance has never been more resolute and resilient – the cornerstone of peace and security in a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of long-term competition with China, it said.
In South Korea, Austin and Blinken will attend a US-South Korea Foreign and Defence Ministerial (”2+2”), hosted by Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defence Minister Suh Wook, to reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea, and emphasise that the US–South Korea alliance remains a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity in Northeast Asia, a free and open Indo-Pacific, and around the world, the Pentagon said.