Much-awaited 2+2 dialogue between India, US to be held in September; strengthening bilateral ties on agenda

New Delhi, July 21: New Delhi is all set to host the much-awaited 2+2 dialogue (two plus two dialogue) between India and the United States (US) on September 6 this year to strengthen bilateral ties. 

Notably, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will host the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in New Delhi. The 2+2 meeting will cover a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest, with a view to strengthening strategic and security ties between the two countries.

In response to media queries on the 2+2 dialogue with the United States, the MEA Official Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Friday said, "Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman will host the U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis, in New Delhi on 6 September 2018 for the inaugural 2+2 dialogue. “

He further said, “The 2+2 meeting will cover a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest, with a view to strengthening strategic and security ties between the two countries." “This new dialogue format is in pursuit of agreement reached between India and the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington D.C. on 25-26 June 2017,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert in a press briefing said, “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis will travel to India to participate in the dialogue.” “Both nations will discuss strengthening of strategic, security and defence cooperation as both the nations jointly address challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” she added.

Importantly, the much awaited2+2 dialogue is seen as a vehicle to elevate the strategic relationship between the two countries.