India, US hold 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, discusses cross-border terrorism and peace in Indo-pacific region

India and United States on October 27, 2020, held the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and signed the significant defence pact BECA which allows India to use global geospatial maps of the US for accuracy of stand-off weapons. 

From India, the U.S Secretary of Defence, Mark T. Esper, and U.S. Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo, who came to India on October 26 for the meet,  were attended by the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Both countries have signed a total of five agreements in 2+2 Ministerial dialogue.  

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a press statement, highlighted the signing of BECA- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement as a significant achievement. Earlier, the first two 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and the US were held in New Delhi in September 2018 and in 2019 in Washington D.C.

Starting soon!

Press Statements/Interaction following the 3rd India – US 2+2 by EAM @DrSJaishankar, RM @rajnathsingh and US Secretaries of State & Defense @SecPompeo, @EsperDoD to begin soon.

Starting at ⏰ 2 pm IST, watch it LIVE : https://t.co/jXo5iI6JDG

— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2020

🇮🇳-🇺🇸 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

EAM @DrSJaishankar & RM @rajnathsingh welcomed their US counterparts Secretaries of State & Defense @SecPompeo & @EsperDoD.

Bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest will be on the agenda. pic.twitter.com/WyGTnfM5Ay

— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2020

Meeting with PM Modi:

Visiting India for the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, both U.S Secretary of Defence, Mark T. Esper, and U.S. Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo also called on Prime Minister Modi. 

While sharing the details through Twitter, PM Modi expressed joy seeing the tremendous progress made in the relations of India and the US and the results of the Ministerial Dialogue. Pm Modi highlighted that the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership stands on the foundation of shared principles and common strategic interests. 

Pleasure meeting @SecPompeo and @EsperDoD. Happy to see tremendous progress made in India-US relations and the results of the third 2+2 dialogue. Our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership stands on a firm foundation of shared principles and common strategic interests. pic.twitter.com/cpUBzMYy80

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2020

Key Highlights:

• The ministerial meet between both the powerful nations consisted of a discussion on key aspects of multilateral and bilateral cooperation. 

•  US and India explored the probable capacity building as well as other collaborative activities in the third countries, including neighbours of India. 

• Both sides have also agreed that upholding the international order, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of all the states and respecting the freedom of navigating in international seas is extremely important. 

• The Union Defence Minister also informed that both India and the US have agreed to continue to work together to strengthen defence security and other significant areas. 

Discussion on cross-border terrorism:

According to the Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, the 2+2 ministerial meeting also covered the developments in the neighbouring countries of India and made it extremely clear that cross border terrorism is unacceptable. 

Indo-Pacific region was the particular focus of the talks and both the nations reiterated the significance of peace and stability for all the countries in the region. Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State made it clear that the US stands with India as the nation confronts threats to their liberty and sovereignty. 

He also added that both the countries have been taking steps to strengthen the cooperation against all forms of threats and not just those posed by China. 

US Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper also mentioned that both India and the US stand shoulder to shoulder in support of a free and open indo-pacific for all, particularly amid the increasing aggression and destabilizing activities by China. 

Expansion of India-US Cooperation:

While sharing the areas of cooperation between both the nations, the US Secretary of State also laid out various other areas where both the US and India have been collaborating:

• India and the US have shown cooperation on cyber issues as well as the navies of both nations have held joint exercises in the Indian Ocean.

• Both the countries also came together for QUAD- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

• They worked together during India's upcoming term on United Nations Security Council.  

• US has also made it clear that it continues to support India's permanent membership of the Security Council.