US Secretary of State, Secretary of Defence to visit India in November: Sources

US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will be visiting Delhi in November this year to discuss issues such as regional security and strategic ties between India and the US, as per sources.

The two leaders will be meeting their Indian counterparts - External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh - during their visit.

They are expected to engage in discussions concerning the full spectrum of India-US strategic relationships and explore ways to strengthen these ties, sources told India Today TV.

Antony J Blinken and Lloyd Austin are also likely to discuss regional security matters, such as the ongoing military standoff on India's northern borders with



China.

India and the US are both members of the QUAD grouping, which is dedicated to ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific region, where India holds a significant role. The discussions may also encompass the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Gaza region, with a focus on containment to prevent further escalation.

The repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war on global security are likely to be a part of the dialogue.

Additionally, India and the US will discuss defence hardware cooperation, with India purchasing over $3 billion worth of Predator drones and related systems. India has been one of the largest purchasers of American weaponry over the last few decades, and further cooperation in this domain is anticipated in the future.