India is an increasingly important partner amid today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics, said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Saturday and added that the ties between Washington and New Delhi are a “stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region”.

“I’m pleased to report that Minister [Rajnath] Singh and I had a productive discussion on security issues important to our two countries. And at the top of my agenda, I wanted to convey the Biden-Harris administration’s message of our strong commitment to our allies and partners. India, in particular, is an increasingly important partner amid today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics,” Austin said while making the joint statement along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.