Pompeo and Esper set to arrive today for India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue

India and the US are set to assessment their strategic and safety ties and talk about methods to make sure a free and open Indo-Pacific throughout their third 2+2 dialogue between the defence and overseas ministers in New Delhi on Tuesday.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary Mark Esper will arrive within the nationwide Capital Monday afternoon for a two-day go to, throughout which they may even maintain bilateral talks with their Indian counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh and meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue, to be held on Tuesday morning, is anticipated to deal with regional safety cooperation, defence information-sharing in order that the 2 sides can sort out regional challenges extra successfully, international cooperation, together with public well being collaboration to deal with Covid-19, financial cooperation, and dealing collectively within the Indo-Pacific, officers have mentioned.

“Grateful for the opportunity to connect with our partners to promote a shared vision for a free and open #IndoPacific composed of independent, strong, and prosperous nations,” Pompeo tweeted on Sunday as he started a visit that may even take him to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia.

The two sides are broadly anticipated to signal the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), certainly one of 4 so-called foundational pacts to facilitate sharing of labeled satellite tv for pc and sensor information, through the 2+2 assembly.

Shortly after their arrival within the nationwide capital on Monday afternoon, Pompeo and Esper will maintain separate bilateral conferences with their Indian counterparts that may enable the 2 sides to assessment and assess bilateral cooperation in diplomacy and defence.

Officials from each side have pointed to the importance of Pompeo and Esper making an in-person go to at a time when most diplomatic conferences and interactions have moved on-line as a result of pandemic, saying this displays the significance hooked up to the connection with India.

Also Read: ‘Grateful for opportunity to connect with partners’, tweets Mike Pompeo as he leaves for India for two+2 talks

Holding the third 2+2 ministerial dialogue in a bit greater than two years “demonstrates high-level commitment to our shared diplomatic and security objectives”, the US state division mentioned in a press release.

The US and India have a dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and the expansion within the partnership “reflects a deepening strategic convergence on a range of issues”. The go to by Pompeo and Esper will cap a collection of high-profile engagements between the 2 sides this yr, which started with President Donald Trump’s go to to India in February.

“India, with its large economy, strong support for entrepreneurship and innovation, and its growing international trade, is one of the world’s leading economic powers and is well positioned to promote our shared vision for a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific where all nations can prosper,” the assertion mentioned.

As outlined within the US nationwide safety technique, Washington welcomes New Delhi’s emergence as a number one regional and international energy, and appears ahead to collaborating intently through the nation’s upcoming time period as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council throughout 2021-22.

Also Read: US welcomes India’s rise as a number one regional and international energy

The current ministerial assembly of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad in Tokyo, convened by Pompeo and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia, “demonstrated the strong cooperative ties among Indo-Pacific democracies interested in strengthening a rules-based order”, and the grouping has helped to create resilient provide chains, counter disinformation, and enhance maritime safety, it added.