Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 4-Day US Visit From August 23

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a four-day visit to the US from August 23 to further strengthen the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations.

The Defence Singh will visit Washington and hold bilateral talks with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan among others.

India's plan to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, the proposed joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and co-production of GE F414 engines in India are likely to figure prominently in Singh's talks with Austin, officials said Tuesday.

"The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," the defence ministry said announcing Singh's trip to the US from August 23 to 26.

"The visit comes in the backdrop of the growing momentum in India-US relations and defence engagements at multiple levels," it said.

“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be undertaking an official visit to the United States from August 23 to 26, on the invitation of the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. During the visit, the Raksha Mantri will hold a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart Secretary Austin. He will also meet the US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Jake Sullivan, ” the statement further read.

Singh will also chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry on the ongoing and future defence collaborations. He will also interact with the Indian community during the visit.