India, US hold third 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Read joint statement here

The United States stands with India in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and liberty, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned on Tuesday after the third version of the two+2 strategic dialogue that majorly centered on coping with China’s aggressive navy behaviour in japanese Ladakh, Indo- Pacific and different elements of the world.

Here is the total textual content of the joint assertion issued by India and US:

India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar welcomed US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper to New Delhi for the third annual India-US. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The Ministers welcomed the elevation of the India-U.S. relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership throughout the go to of President Donald J. Trump to India in February 2020. They reiterated their dedication to additional strengthening the India-US. partnership, anchored in mutual belief and friendship, shared dedication to democracy, converging strategic pursuits, and strong engagement of their residents.

While celebrating greater than seven a long time of diplomatic engagement between India and the United States, the Ministers intend to increase cooperation below the two+2 framework to understand the total potential of the India-US. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Co-operation throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Ministers applauded the exemplary cooperation between India and the United States in confronting challenges rising from the Covid-19 pandemic. They reiterated their resolve to strengthen cooperation within the improvement of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, ventilators and different important medical tools. Recognizing that bilateral engagement within the analysis & improvement and the mass manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics performs to our respective strengths, the Ministers sought to collectively promote entry to top quality, secure, efficient and reasonably priced Covid-19 vaccines and coverings on a worldwide scale. India expressed appreciation for the 200 ventilators offered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Indian Red Cross Society, whereas the US expressed appreciation for India’s export of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), important medicines, and therapeutics to the United States throughout these difficult occasions. The Ministers regarded ahead to the conclusion of an overarching MoU between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), together with their element businesses and departments, to boost well being cooperation, together with on well being emergencies and pandemics, prevention, analysis and remedy of communicable and non-communicable illnesses, and biomedical analysis and innovation. The Ministers additionally regarded ahead to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD/NIH) to collaborate by an International Center of Excellence in Research centered on infectious illnesses together with Covid-19 and different rising threats. They welcomed the upcoming name for purposes for medical analysis fellowships for early and mid-career Indian and American scientists to assist increase the cohort of doctor scientists centered on analysis that can advance medical observe and profit public well being in each nations. Noting the significance of well being sector cooperation, additionally they regarded ahead to convening the India-US Health Dialogue at an early date.

The Ministers reaffirmed efforts to boost provide chain resilience and to hunt alternate options to the present paradigm, which had come below extreme pressure throughout the pandemic and uncovered important vulnerabilities. The Ministers sought to assist the worldwide financial restoration, together with in India and the United States, to emerge from the pandemic extra resilient than ever.

The Ministers expressed appreciation for the repatriation of stranded Indian and US nationals from each nations throughout the pandemic.

Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific and Global Leadership

The Ministers reiterated their dedication to sustaining a free, open, inclusive, peaceable, and affluent Indo-Pacific constructed on a rules-based worldwide order, underpinned by ASEAN centrality, rule of legislation, sustainable and clear infrastructure funding, freedom of navigation and overflight, mutual respect for sovereignty, and peaceable decision of disputes. Highlighting the significance of securing the financial and safety pursuits of all stakeholders having a respectable curiosity within the area, the Ministers welcomed the rising understanding on the Indo-Pacific amongst like-minded nations. They reaffirmed that nearer India-US cooperation will assist shared pursuits in selling safety and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific area and past. They additionally emphasised that the Code of Conduct within the South China Sea shouldn’t prejudice the respectable rights and pursuits of any nation in accordance with worldwide legislation.

The Ministers welcomed the current convening of the Second Australia-India-Japan-United States Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on October 6, 2020.They appreciated the trade of views on regional problems with mutual curiosity, in addition to ongoing cooperation associated to maritime safety, humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction, regional connectivity, well being safety and counter terrorism. The Ministers additionally welcomed the truth that these Consultations would now be held yearly. They expressed their assist for additional strengthening Quad cooperation by expanded actions, together with initiating a dialogue among the many improvement organizations of accomplice nations.

The Ministers expressed their assist for sustainable, clear, high quality infrastructure improvement within the Indo-Pacific area. They regarded ahead to furthering collaboration between USAID and India’s Development Partnership Administration (DPA) with a view to endeavor joint initiatives within the area. The Ministers welcomed the institution of a everlasting presence of the US International Development Finance Cooperation (DFC) in India this yr. The United States expressed sturdy assist for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as a number one mechanism for selling regional financial improvement. Recognizing the necessity to include the build-up of sovereign debt in creating and low-income nations by guaranteeing accountable, clear, and sustainable financing practices for each debtors and collectors, the Ministers regarded ahead to exploring methods to cooperate below the Blue Dot Network. They additionally regarded ahead to the Second Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) to be held on October 28-29, 2020.

Building on a powerful document of peacekeeping cooperation, the Ministers determined to increase joint capability constructing efforts with accomplice nations within the Indo-Pacific and to take part in multilateral peacekeeping coaching workouts.

The Ministers mentioned their shared curiosity in selling a sovereign, peaceable, united, democratic, inclusive, steady and safe Afghanistan, together with assist for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace course of. They applauded India’s improvement help, and efforts to construct commerce linkages and multi-modal connectivity infrastructure for Afghanistan to boost its regional connectivity to maintain development and improvement over the long run.

The United States congratulated India for its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the time period 2021-2022. The Ministers reiterated their dedication to work collectively in shut coordination at the us and in International Organizations. The US additionally reaffirmed its continued sturdy assist for India’s everlasting membership in a reformed UNSC in addition to for India’s early entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Advancing the Defence and Security Partnership

Noting the 15th anniversary of the inaugural US-India Defense Framework Agreement, the Ministers recommended what has turn out to be a complete, resilient, and multi-faceted Major Defense Partnership (MDP) between India and the United States. They applauded the numerous step of the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). They additionally welcomed enhanced maritime info sharing and maritime area consciousness between their Navies and affirmed their dedication to construct upon present protection information-sharing on the joint-service and service-to-service ranges and discover potential new areas of mutually helpful cooperation.

The Ministers reaffirmed their dedication to deepening bilateral protection session and collaboration and to exploring alternatives to increase cooperative capacity-building efforts with companions throughout the area. They additionally affirmed their dedication to pursue elevated cooperation between the Indian navy and US Central Command and Africa Command, together with broader participation in workouts and conferences, in order to advertise shared safety pursuits. The US appreciated India’s management in establishing an Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). The Ministers welcomed the positioning of a Liaison Officer from the US Navy on the IFC-IOR and the positioning of an Indian Liaison Officer at NAVCENT, Bahrain and reiterated their intent to assign extra Liaison Officers.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction on the ongoing progress within the implementation of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), together with the enlargement of safe communications capabilities to incorporate safe video teleconference capabilities between their respective Navies, Armies and Air Forces in addition to between respective Foreign and Defense Ministries. The Ministers welcomed the convening of the Military Cooperation Group (MCG) later this yr to evaluate bilateral military-to-military engagement together with joint workouts, coaching and knowledgeable exchanges. They regarded ahead to interplay between the Special Forces of India and the United States.

The Ministers welcomed the inclusion of the Royal Australian Navy within the US-India-Japan MALABAR Naval Exercise scheduled to be held within the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in November 2020. Highlighting the significance of deepening maritime cooperation and the rising sophistication of US-India naval cooperation, the Ministers welcomed the PASSEX carried out by the Navies of each nations. They additionally regarded ahead to the convening of the following version of the Tri-Services Amphibious TIGER TRIUMPH HADR Exercise and Army Exercises YUDH ABHYAS and VAJRA PRAHAR in 2021. The US welcomed India’s co-hosting of the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) and Senior Enlisted Leader Forum (SELF) in 2023.

The Ministers determined to work collectively to understand the event of their respective protection industries. Acknowledging India’s contributions to the worldwide provide chain of main defence platforms and dedication to protection innovation, the Ministers reiterated the significance of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), and acknowledged their intention to quick monitor initiatives below DTTI. They famous with satisfaction the signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) on the 10th DTTI assembly to strengthen dialogue on defence know-how cooperation on a number of particular DTTI initiatives in addition to a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for identification and improvement of joint initiatives. India regarded ahead to the participation by the US Government and defence {industry} on the upcoming Aero-India in February 2021.

Recognizing the significance of cooperation in defence innovation, the Ministers welcomed the inaugural assembly between the Indian Defence Innovation Organization (DIO-iDEX) and US Defense Innovation United (DIU) in July 2020. They additionally regarded ahead to the inaugural Industrial Security Annex (ISA) Summit later this yr which might additional strengthen defence industrial cooperation between each nations.

Strengthening Bilateral India-US Cooperation

The Ministers welcomed efforts to rejuvenate and increase bilateral India-US commerce within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, they famous ongoing discussions by the Unites States Trade Representative and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry to succeed in an understanding on enhancing market entry, eradicating boundaries to commerce, and enhancing the enterprise surroundings.

The Ministers famous with satisfaction the numerous strides made below the 4 Pillars of the Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP) masking Oil & Gas, Power and Energy Efficiency, Renewables and Sustainable Growth. They additionally appreciated the progress made below the India-US Gas Task Force and the launch of industry-led initiatives. They welcomed the announcement of latest priorities and roadmap for every of the Pillars throughout the Ministerial assembly of the SEP held on July 17, 2020. With the target of intensifying cooperation within the space of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), the Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on this regard.

Recalling the historic India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, the Ministers welcomed the undertaking Division of Responsibility rules between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for the development of six nuclear reactors at Kovvada, and regarded ahead to the detailed Division of Responsibility that will pave the way in which for a techno-commercial provide. The Ministers additionally welcomed the extension of the MoU between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America regarding cooperation with India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP).

The Ministers welcomed the digital convening of the 17th assembly of the India-US Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group and the third Session of the India-US Designations Dialogue on September 9-10, 2020. They denounced using terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross border terrorism in all its varieties. They emphasised the necessity for concerted motion towards all terrorist networks, together with al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The Ministers referred to as on Pakistan to take rapid, sustained and irreversible motion to make sure that no territory below its management is used for terrorist assaults, and to expeditiously convey to justice the perpetrators and planners of all such assaults, together with 26/11 Mumbai, Uri, and Pathankot. The Ministers additionally dedicated to continued trade of details about sanctions and designations towards terror teams and people, notably in mild of current legislative adjustments in India, in addition to countering the financing and operations of terrorist organizations, countering radicalism and terrorist use of the web, cross-border motion of terrorists, and prosecuting, rehabilitating, and reintegrating returning terrorist fighters and relations.

The Ministers intend to boost their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora, together with the UN. They additionally reaffirmed their assist for the early adoption of a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) that can advance and strengthen the framework for world cooperation and reinforce the message that no trigger or grievance justifies terrorism.

In view of the announcement made throughout President Trump’s go to to India to determine a brand new India-US Counter-Narcotics Working Group, the Ministers welcomed the proposal to convene the primary such digital assembly later this yr, with an in-person assembly in 2021, to boost cooperation between Indian and US drug and legislation enforcement businesses. The Ministers welcomed efforts by the US Department of Homeland Security and India’s Ministry of Home Affairs to reinvigorate the Homeland Security Dialogue.

The Ministers welcomed the digital convening of the India-US Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Working Group on October 1, 2020. They reaffirmed their dedication in the direction of an open, dependable and safe web in addition to the multi-stakeholder mannequin of web governance. They emphasised fostering cooperation between their {industry} and academia for an open, safe and resilient provide of strategic materials and significant infrastructure and to independently consider the chance related to deployment of rising ICT applied sciences, together with 5G networks.

The Ministers additionally welcomed the current convening of the annual India-US Cyber Dialogue on September 15, 2020 and the primary India-US Defence Cyber Dialogue on September 17, 2020.

Recalling their nations’ proud document of accomplishment in house science and satellite tv for pc utility, the Ministers applauded the continuing collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), together with on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite tv for pc scheduled to be launched by 2022. The Ministers additionally regarded ahead to sharing Space Situational Awareness info, which is able to catalyze efforts to create the circumstances for a secure, steady, and sustainable house surroundings. They additionally expressed the intent to proceed the India-US Space Dialogue in addition to discussions on areas of potential house protection cooperation.

The Ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Technical Cooperation in Earth Observation and Earth Sciences between the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for creating a greater understanding of the regional and world climate origins within the Indian Ocean and advancing widespread analysis targets in meteorology, oceanography, and administration of dwelling marine assets. The Ministers welcomed the signing of an Agreement between India’s Department of Post and the United States Postal Service, which is able to facilitate the digital trade of customs knowledge associated to postal shipments. They additionally applauded the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Indian Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH and the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, US Department of Health and Human Services.

Nurturing the People–to-People Bonds

Underscoring the significance of ties between our respective legislatures, the Ministers welcomed the launch of an India-US Parliamentary Exchange.

Applauding the entrepreneurial spirit of Indians and Indian-Americans that has mutually benefitted each nations, the Ministers recognised the vital position of people-to-people linkages in strengthening the general bilateral relationship and financial ties. Both sides sit up for the following iteration of the India-US Consular Dialogue to additional enhance cooperation and focus on problems with mutual concern, together with visas, and familial points associated to marriage, adoption and little one custody.

The Ministers welcomed the rising variety of Indian college students within the United States and acknowledged the position of increasing instructional ties and fostering entrepreneurship and scientific innovation. In this context, the Ministers welcomed India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which might pave the way in which for enhanced collaboration between tutorial establishments of each nations. The Ministers regarded ahead to discussions to additional advance India-US instructional partnerships.

Appreciating the dear contribution of the Fulbright-Nehru Program over time in furthering trade of excellent lecturers and professionals between each nations, the Ministers celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Program this yr.

The Ministers welcomed the graduation of issuance of 12-month reciprocal short-term obligation visas to officers from each Governments as a step to facilitate the rising partnership.

The United States appears to be like ahead to internet hosting the following 2+2 Ministerial in 2021.