2+2 meetings have been held annually with US leaders since 2018. What is the format of this meeting and which countries does India engage with under this framework? Let’s take a look.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met their US government counterparts, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a 2+2 ministerial dialogue Thursday was held in New Delhi on Friday, November 11.
2+2 meetings have taken place annually with US leaders since 2018. What is the format of this meeting and which countries is India engaging in this way?
Let’s take a look.
What are 2+2 meetings and what is their purpose? The 2+2 meeting means the participation of two high-level representatives, ministers holding the Foreign and Defense positions of each country, with the aim of enhancing the scope of dialogue between them.
Having such a mechanism allows partners to better understand and appreciate each other’s strategic concerns and sensitivities, taking into account political factors on both sides, in order to build the relationship. stronger and more integrated strategy in a rapidly changing global environment.
Who is India’s 2+2 partner?
The US is the oldest and most important partner in India’s 2+2 negotiations.
The first 2+2 dialogue between the two countries took place during the Trump administration, when then Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and then Secretary of Defense James Mattis met with the late Sushma Swaraj and then Secretary of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi in September 2018.
It is also seen as a replacement for the strategic and trade dialogue held between the two countries’ foreign and trade ministers under the previous Obama administration.
The launch of the dialogue is seen as “reflecting the shared commitment” of India and the US to bring about a “positive and forward-looking vision of the India-US strategic partnership and leverage integrated in the diplomatic and security efforts of the two countries.” Additionally, India held 2+2 meetings with the ministers of Australia, Japan, UK and Russia. Notably, during this year’s meeting, Antony Blinken reiterated the importance of India’s relationship with several countries that are also important allies of the United States.
“We promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure and resilient, including by strengthening our partnership through QUAD with Japan and Australia”. QUAD or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an informal security forum and these four countries are members.
According to a joint press release at the time, negotiations with Japan through the platform began in 2019, with the aim of “further strengthening the strategic depth of security and defense cooperation Bilateral”. In 2021, in the first discussion session with Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “Both Russia and India have a similar worldview, which is about a more polycentric, multipolar world order.” and more fair. We support similar or identical positions on the most important political and military issues.” He also said that 2+2 will become “an effective dialogue platform to discuss many regional and international topics, further deepening our traditional mutual understanding.”
That same year, the 2+2 dialogue with Australia also began. In October 2023, the first such meeting with the UK took place.
Defense and strategic agreements under 2+2
Over the years, strategic bilateral relations with partners, including dialogues held in the 2+2 format, have yielded clear and far-reaching results for India.
India and the US signed a trio of “foundational treaties” on deepening military cooperation, starting with the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (LEMOA) in 2016, followed by the Compatibility and Security Agreement. communication secret (COMCASA) after 2+ first 2 conversations. in 2018, followed by the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020.
Strengthening the cooperation mechanism between the two militaries is very important in the context of an increasingly aggressive China, threatening many countries in and outside the region, while also challenging a number of established norms and aspects. established in international relations.
Establishing a mechanism with Japan, which is also wary of China’s role, is another example. However, India also engages with Russia through 2+2 dialogue, keeping in mind the security and energy interests as well as the historical depth of the relationship between the two countries.
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