New Delhi: India is steadily cranking up its naval exercises with the “Quad” countries and other key strategic allies, even as US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin began his first tour to Asia to bolster military cooperation and ensure “credible deterrence” against China.

Austin’s visit to New Delhi from March 19 to 21, after touring Japan and South Korea with secretary of state Antony Blinken, will come amid the continuing military confrontation between India and China at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The focus of his talks with defence minister Rajnath Singh will be on further enhancing the robust bilateral defence ties as well as ensuring “a free, open and inclusive” Indo-Pacific region, with an eye firmly on China.

Speaking at the US Indo-Pacific Command at Hawaii, Austin said he was travelling to Japan, South Korea and India to strengthen “alliances and partnerships” as well as foster “credible deterrence” against China. With India, US, Japan and Australia making clear their intent to deter any “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific during their leaders’ Quad summit, their navies will join France for its “La Pérouse” exercise in Bay of Bengal from April 4 to 7.

India will deploy its frontline warships and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft from the eastern naval command at Visakhapatnam for this Quad-plus-France exercise. Then, the bilateral “Varuna” naval exercise between India and France will be expanded to include UAE in Arabian Sea from April 25 to 27.