Interviewtimes 
Tensions have been running high in eastern Ladakh for the past few months. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin is on a three-day visit to India on Friday. For the first time since US President Joe Biden came to power, no U.S. minister is visiting India. In this regard, Lloyd will meet Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval.
Lloyd will arrive in Delhi on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, he will first pay tribute to the heroic soldiers who were martyred at the National War Memorial. Here he will be awarded the Guard of Honor by 3 armies. He will then hold bilateral talks with Rajnath. Military representatives from both countries will be present at this time. The two leaders will issue a joint statement after the talks.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Lloyd will discuss a number of issues related to national security with his counterparts. There will also be talks on strengthening defense ties. The U.S. will also discuss China’s decline in dominance in the Pacific and Indian oceans, the U.S. said.
