2 + 2 strategic dialogue between India and the United States in Delhi on September 6



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The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of India and the United States will hold the first edition of the "2 + 2" strategic dialogue on security and defense ties in Delhi on September 6, announced Friday. Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Raksha Mantri (Defense Minister) Nirmala Sitharaman will welcome US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis in New Delhi on September 6, 2018, for the inaugural dialogue 2 + 2, "External Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

"This new dialogue format is in pursuit of an agreement reached between India and the United States during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington on June 25 and 26, 2017," Kumar said.

"The 2 + 2 meeting will focus on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest, with a view to strengthening the strategic and security ties between the two countries," he added.

It was supposed to be reported because the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, was to travel to North Korea for unannounced meetings with officials from that country

. 2 "meeting was scheduled to take place in April.The United States also had to host it, but they were removed from office after President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

announcing the new date and the new venue.The dialogue will take place in New Delhi on September 6. "

The two sides will meet" to discuss the strengthening of strategic cooperation, security and defense while the United States and India is tackling the challenges of the Indo-Pacific region together. "US Ambassador to New Delhi, Ken Juster, said the US" is turning to productive talks between our two countries on ways to strengthen strategic, security and defense cooperation between India and the United States "

A 2 + 2" dialogue for negotiations at the strategic level was agreed between both parties during the trip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2017. The new format replaces the strategic and trade dialogue between the two countries' foreign and trade ministers, under the Obama administration.

The sudden decision to cancel the talks in July sparked speculation that the Trump administration was lower in priority according to links with India.

It has also been said that the United States may not have been happy that India is pursuing its plan to purchase military equipment in Russia despite US sanctions against Moscow under of the United States Counter-Sanctions Act (CAATSA). On September 6 in New Delhi, both parties will attempt to finalize key defense agreements such as the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), a defense pact that will allow India to Obtain critical, secure and encrypted defense technologies.

According to sources, Indian and American ministers will also discuss developments and issues of mutual interest in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Russia and China should also intervene during the talks.

They said that India would ask CAATSA to give up Indian military purchases from Russia, as well as the import of crude oil from Iran which was also sanctioned. [19659002AmericanAttemptsAgainstOligarchistsandRussianCompaniesmustacommonlyacceleratedbythefundingoftheSystemGoodsoftheAssemblyofSanterianDefenseS-400ThreeMilitaryAgreementof55billionDollarsAlmostReadytoClose

declared that CAATSA also prohibits US allies from dealing with sanctioned persons and companies of Russia, and whether New Delhi was going ahead with its new military purchases would complicate "our ability to work on interoperability". The strategic ties with Russia go back to the beginning of the Cold War even as New Delhi led a movement of "non-aligned" countries that did not declare their position in Washington or Moscow. However, India has always leaned towards the then USSR.

India buys more than 60% of its defense equipment from Russia. Currently, the Indian armed forces are equipped with 70% of Soviet or Russian weapons.

Defense Minister Sitharaman said last week that CAATSA was not binding on India. decisions taken with other countries

– IANS

ab-sar / vm

(This story was not edited by Business Standard staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)

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