India & Australia hold third 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi

The third India-Australia Secretary-level 2+2 dialogue was held on 9 December 2019 in New Delhi. The Indian side was led by Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, while its counterpart delegation was led by Australia’s Defense Secretary Greg Moriarty and Foreign Secretary Frances Adamson.

Ahead of 3rd 2+2 dialogue, the two defense secretaries of India & Australia held a bilateral meeting. The Indian defense secretary expressed satisfaction on ongoing defense engagements between armed forces of two countries, and conveyed India’s commitment to further enhance defense cooperation with Australia, both in scope and complexity.

Highlights: India-Australia 2+2 dialogue

Both the sides discusses issues related to bilateral defense engagements, areas towards enhancing cooperation in field of defense industry/ defense technology as well as prevailing regional security concerns.

This year’s edition of 2+2 dialogue, assumes additional significance as they come months after India, Australia, Japan and United States (US) decided to upgrade their interactions in ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (Quad) format to ministerial level in September 2019. All aspects of bilateral relations will be reviewed, with the focus on security and strategic relations.

The main focus of 2+2 dialogue will be on bilateral outcomes for Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit in January 2020. Morrison is visiting India at invitation of his counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will deliver the inaugural address at Raisina Dialogue.

India’s 2+2 Mechanism

India has put in place 2+2 dialogues, either at level of officials or ministers, with several key partners, including Japan and the US. The maiden India-Japan 2+2 ministerial dialogue, was also held in New Delhi. India and US are expected to hold their ministerial 2+2 dialogue in Washington, US on 18 December.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019