US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel began his official engagements with India's top leadership by meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi this morning. He will meet his counterpart Arun Jaitley later today. Hagel will also have meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Air Chief Arup Raha and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He arrived in New Delhi yesterday.

This is his first visit to India as US Defence Secretary and follows a similar stop in the country last week by Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

Strenthening military ties, the issue of intelligence sharing and discussions on deals for procuring 22 Apache attack helicopters,15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers along with four P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft are expected to come up for discussion at the meetings.

Speaking ahead of his maiden visit to the country, Hagel described India as one of the most significant countries in the world. He said the world's largest democracy will help shape a new world order that is emerging in this century.