The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin has stated at end of three-day visit to India in a press conference in Delhi and he discussed about human rights and minorities with Indian officials. When asked if he had spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue of human rights, the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had not. “I didn’t get the chance to speak with him about it. Having said that, I did have a discussion about this with other cabinet members “Lloyd Austin expressed his thoughts. He went on to say that India is a partner with whom the US values cooperation.
The US Secretary of Defense went on to say, “I believe that partners should be able to have these types of conversations. And we are definitely comfortable doing so, and you can have those conversations in a meaningful manner while still making progress.” Senator Rober Menendez, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a letter to Secretary Austin that the Indian government is “trending away” from democratic ideals. When asked if he agrees with Senator Menendez, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin cited President Joe Biden’s declaration that the United States of America values human rights and the rule of law.
“Our morals are always at the forefront of everything we do. That is really important to us as a democracy. India is a democratic country, and your ideals are important to you as well. There are many matters on which we can and will collaborate”, said Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense. Lloyd Austin also replied to media inquiries about the India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
“We never felt India and China were on the verge of war due to the Ladakh tensions,” Secretary Austin said, stating the official US position. India and the United States will continue to collaborate with like-minded nations, as this is the only way to meet any challenge.
