India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: Here Are The Key Issues To Be Discussed

The Defence and Foreign ministers of India and Australia will engage in discussions, covering a broad spectrum of strategic, defence, and security matters, on Monday (20 November).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, will engage in discussions with their Australian counterparts, Richard Marles and Penny Wong, to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The ministers will discuss various pressing issues includinng the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in West Asia, China's growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, India's diplomatic tensions with Canada, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, The Indian Express reported.

The discussions will encompass bilateral, regional, and global topics of mutual interest in order to enhance cooperation within the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Australia. Both sides will also exchange views on common priorities for strengthening cooperation in minilateral and multilateral settings.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the 14th foreign ministerial framework dialogue between the external affairs minister (S Jaishankar) and foreign minister Wong will take place on November 21. The purpose of this dialogue is to assess the progress of cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The second India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue will be co-chaired by Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, according to the Defence ministry.

During the 2+2 dialogue and the bilateral defence ministers’ meeting, the two countries are anticipated to engage in discussions on various matters of shared interest.

The first-ever '2+2' ministerial dialogue between India and Australia took place in September 2021.