New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the US from 11-12 April 2022 for India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue which will take place on 11th April in Washington, said MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi as reported by news agency ANI.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EAM will lead the Indian delegation to hold talks with their US counterpart Antony Blinken and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin.
Meanwhile, Austin US Defence Secy said, "Look forward to welcoming Rajnath Singh&Dr Jaishankar alongside Secy Blinken for 4th US-India 2+2 Ministerial,Apr 11. This yr’s Ministerial will feature an ambitious agenda for US-India defense cooperation as we work together to sustain a free & open Indo-Pacific."
"The dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence & security with objective of providing strategic guidance & vision for further consolidating the relationship," said MEA.
"The EAM will also separately meet his US counterpart Secretary Antony Blinken. EAM is also scheduled to meet senior members of the US admn to further advance the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership," the minister added.
Jaishankar and Rajnath will also have other meetings scheduled on the sidelines. This will be the first India-US 2+2 under the Biden administration.
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This year’s event will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and reaffirm the importance of the U.S.-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership in ensuring international peace and security. It will reaffirm our shared commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The relationship between the world’s largest democracies is built on a foundation of common values and resilient democratic institutions, and the shared Indo-Pacific interests of a rules-based international order that safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity upholds human rights, and expands regional and global peace and prosperity.
The 2+2 exchange accepts significance at a point when the US has clarified its discomfort with India's position on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The last 2+2 Ministerial Dialog between the two nations was held in October 2020 in New Delhi.
India and the United States held a two-sided 2+2 sessional meeting in September last year in Washington and exchanged assessments on improvements in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and the Western Indian Ocean.
The two sides assessed the advancement and improvements in the bilateral agenda under the India-US strategic partnership, including defence, worldwide general wellbeing, financial and business collaboration, science and innovation, clean energy and climate finance, and people-to-people ties.