Key Highlights From The India-US 2+2 Ministerial Strategic Dialogue Between Foreign, Defence Ministers

The India-United States 2+2 ministerial dialogue kicked off on Friday (10 November), with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscoring the critical nature of the partnership for a free, open, and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region.

Leading the US delegation were Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, while India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Blinken echoed Singh's sentiments, emphasising the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific through strengthened partnerships, including the QUAD with Japan and Australia.

“We are promoting a free and open, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific, including by strengthening our partnership through the QUAD with Japan and Australia,” Blinken said.

He highlighted efforts in enhancing maritime domain awareness, sharing commercial satellite data, and collaboration in areas like semiconductors, biotechnology, and clean energy.

“One significant way we’re doing that is by enhancing maritime domain awareness, sharing commercial satellite data with countries in the region to boost their capacity, for example, to combat illegal phishing, piracy, and drug trafficking," Blinken added.

"We’re harnessing together the power of innovation to make our economies more resilient and to make our communities more secure while expanding inclusive economic opportunity. That’s evident in the cooperation on semiconductors and advanced biotechnology, on our unprecedented investments in deploying clean energy at scale in our countries as well as across the region, and our joint research and exploration projects in space,” he further stated.

Defence Minister Singh asserted the growing convergence of strategic interests in the India-US bilateral relationship, with a focus on defence, security, and intelligence cooperation.

He emphasised the significance of maintaining focus amid emerging geopolitical challenges.

Singh said, “Defence remains one of the most important pillars of our bilateral relationship.”

The US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, on the other hand, emphasised the importance of exchanging views between the world's two largest democracies and highlighted gains in defence partnership.

Defence Secretary Austin said, "It is more important than ever that the world’s two largest democracies exchange views, find common goals, and deliver for our people.”

He pointed to the integration of industrial bases, interoperability, and technology sharing, citing the strength of the partnership in people-to-people ties.

“We’ve made impressive gains in building our major defence partnership over the past year, and that will help us contribute even more together to the cause of peace and stability. We’re integrating our industrial bases, strengthening our interoperability, and sharing cutting-edge technology," Austin added.

He further stated, "The strength of our partnership is rooted in the people-to-people ties that are the heart of our long friendship together, our diplomats, entrepreneurs, and students are expanding our partnership in new domains, including clean energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. Our increasingly strong ties give us all hope for the future of this partnership and for our common efforts toward a more secure world.”

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar highlighted the Indo-Pacific region as a key focus of discussions, along with the rise in trade and the substantial number of Indian students in the United States.

“Our trade is today in excess of USD 200 Billion… 2,70,000 Indian students study in the United States, and we have a diaspora of 4.4 million,” Jaishankar stated.

He mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, describing it as a highlight and a step towards a forward-looking partnership.

Jaishankar and Blinken discussed the situation arising from the Hamas-Israel conflict ahead of the '2+2' dialogue. Jaishankar described their talks as "open and productive," addressing various regional issues.