India, US 2+2 talks on April 11, focus on international peace and security, no mention of Ukraine
The US has stressed the agenda of the two countries‘ “commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region” while announcing next week‘s 2+2 ministerial meeting of Indian and American defence and diplomacy leaders.
During the meeting on April 11, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, will “reaffirm the importance of the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership in ensuring international peace and security”, the State Department said on Thursday.
The Pentagon said that the US and India will “continue to chart an ambitious course in the bilateral defence partnership” that will aim “to meet the challenges of the 21st century”. This year’s event will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and the US, the State Department said.
Notably, neither the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) statement in New Delhi nor the two parallel announcements make any mention of the Ukraine situation, which is the pre-occupation of the US and a point of difference with India, which has stayed neutral frustrating Washington.
The MEA said: “The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern. Jaishankar will also hold a bilateral meeting with Blinken and meet other US officials.
“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, and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further consolidating the relationship.”
Ahead of the 2+2 meeting with the Russian invasion of Ukraine taking precedence in US foreign policy, Blinken spoke to Jaishankar twice in the last eight days, and Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh and Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland visited New Delhi in March.
Laying out the broad scope of the meeting, the State Department said: “The 2+2 Ministerial is an important opportunity to advance our shared objectives across the breadth of the US-India Strategic Partnership, including enhancing our people-to-people ties and education cooperation, building diverse, resilient supply chains for critical and emerging technology, scaling up our climate action and public health cooperation, and developing a trade and investment partnership to increase prosperity for working families in both countries.
“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 safeguards the sovereignty and territorial integrity upholds human rights, and expands regional and global peace and prosperity.”
[With Inputs from IANS]
PGurus is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with all the latest news and views
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- PM Modi launches another scathing attack on Congress; says ‘Rajiv Gandhi scrapped inheritance law to save family property’ - April 25, 2024
- TN: ED questions five district collectors in illegal sand mining case - April 25, 2024
- ECI issues show cause notice over alleged MCC violations by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi; seeks response from BJP, Congress chief - April 25, 2024
