iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The Modi and Biden administration are keen to deepen their relationship, as the two nations are ready to hold the fourth annual 2+2 dialogue sometime in November in Washington. The last meeting of the 2+2 was held in New Delhi.
India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, arrived to the US on a three-day visit on September 1.
In discussion with Indian reporters on Sept 3, he said, “We used this opportunity to have the 2+2 inter-sessional meeting at the joint secretary level.” “We’re looking at the 2+2 which will happen in November. The exact dates are not yet worked out.”
During his stay in Washington, Shringla held meetings with top officials of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The 2+2 ministerial dialogue takes place between foreign and defense ministers of both sides. The inaugural ‘2+2’ Indo-U.S. dialogue was held in New Delhi in 2018.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh would be hosted by their American counterparts Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the maiden India-U.S. 2+2 meeting under the Biden administration.
In addition to being engaged on the issue of Afghanistan, the two countries, during Shringla’s visit, had an extensive conversation on regional and multilateral issues including the United Nations and the upcoming Quadrilateral summit here later this year.
The four countries had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the “Quad” or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter China’s aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry is also scheduled to visit India soon, Shringla said.
India and the U.S. on September 3 reaffirmed the strength of their defense relationship underscoring their commitment to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region as Shringla met Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin H. Kahl.
They also discussed Afghanistan and a range of regional issues of shared interest, as well as key areas of defense cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and western Indian Ocean region.
