Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III arrived to India March 19 for a first day of meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Secretary Austin commended India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific and growing engagement with like-minded partners across the region to promote shared goals. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote a free and open regional order. Both sides exchanged perspectives on shared challenges confronting the region and committed to further strengthen their broad ranging and robust defence cooperation.