Everything You Need To Know About US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s trip to India

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s March 19 visit to India will center on strengthening defense ties and expanding military-to-military engagement.

New Delhi - The visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to India from March 19 to 21, 2021, signaled the Biden administration's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with New Delhi, with a clear focus on the Indo-Pacific region. As the first senior official from the Biden administration to visit India, Austin's trip underscored the importance of the U.S.-India defense relationship.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in military uniform. Image source:  TheIndianHawk.com

A Cohesive Front Against China

A key objective of Austin's trip was to foster "credible deterrence" against China's rising global influence. Austin himself has stated that the U.S. aims to have the "capabilities and the operational plans" to deter China or any other nation that might challenge the United States. 

A Pentagon statement prior to the visit emphasized the U.S. need for "strong allies and partners and friends in that part of the world." The timing of the visit, following a 10-month-long military standoff between India and China in Ladakh, was seen as a strong message to Beijing.

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The Biden administration appears to be continuing the tougher stance on China adopted by the Trump administration, but with a more multilateral approach. President Biden has made it clear that the U.S. is "prepared to confront – and when necessary, militarily counter – a rising China." 

He also established a new Defense Department China Task Force to review U.S. strategy and force posture in the region, with its findings to remain classified.

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Strengthening Military Ties and Resolving Key Issues

During his three-day visit, Austin met with his Indian counterpart, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior officials. The discussions centered on deepening the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership, strengthening military-to-military engagement, and advancing defense trade.

Bilateral defense trade between the two countries has grown significantly in recent years, making the U.S. one of India's top arms suppliers. Reports at the time suggested that a deal for 30 armed drones, valued at over $3 billion, was close to approval by the Indian Defense Ministry. 

India had also leased two Sea Guardian unarmed drones from the U.S. in late 2020. However, a potential point of friction was India's plan to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense system, which could trigger U.S. sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

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The Quad and a New Era of Diplomacy

Austin's visit came shortly after the first virtual Quad summit, a grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The summit's success underscored the growing cooperation among the four nations and seemed to "rattle China," which has previously dismissed the grouping as "sea foam" and accused its members of holding a "Cold War mentality."

Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Singh Sandhu, noted that the visit reflected the high importance the U.S. places on its bilateral relationship with India. He also highlighted the personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, which was evident during the Quad summit. 

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While China has provided support to India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing's public posture and refusal to fully restore the status quo along the LAC continue to be viewed with suspicion by New Delhi. 

The consensus in India's strategic circles is that "parallel diplomacy," where economic ties are pursued separately from security issues, is no longer tenable.