<span style="color: #222222;">US Defence Secretary General Lloyd J Austin will be on a three day visit to India from 19th of this month. During his visit, Secretary Austin is expected to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior dignitaries of the Government.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Both Sides are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges and common interests in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Discussions regarding defence cooperation would also focus on how both countries could consolidate military-to-military cooperation and defence trade and industry cooperation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Defence Ministry said, Mr Austin's visit to India as part of his first overseas travel emphasizes the strength of the India-US strategic partnership.</span>