U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to visit India on March 19

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit India March 19-21 where he will hold talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as part of his maiden visit abroad, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday morning . The dates of the India visit were released by the Defence Ministry. The Secretary, whose trip begins on Saturday, will also visit Japan and South Korea and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii . The trip would reinforce the U.S.’s commitment to the Indo Pacific, the Pentagon said. “Secretary Austin will meet with his counterparts and other senior officials to discuss the importance of international defense 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.