On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry downplayed questions about India’s venue for the 2 + 2 strategic dialogue with the United States ahead of the country’s presidential elections on November 3, saying the timing of the talks largely coincided. measured with those of the two previous meetings.
Experts have questioned the logic behind holding key talks between the two sides’ foreign and defense ministers at a time when the US elections could lead to a change of government. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper will pay a two-day visit to India for talks with their counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh on October 27.
When asked about this issue at the weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said: “Regarding the date of the meeting, you will know that diplomatic calendars have their logic. You will notice that the previous two meetings have also been held at the end of the year. ”
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The first 2 + 2 dialogue was held in New Delhi in September 2018 and the second in Washington in December 2019.
The third dialogue will see India and the United States consolidating their diplomatic and security ties, including institutionalized intelligence sharing and efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. The signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is also on the cards to facilitate the exchange of classified data from satellites and sensors.
“The third 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue will involve a comprehensive debate on cross-cutting bilateral issues of mutual interest. In addition, both sides will exchange views on important regional and global issues, ”Srivastava said, declining to go into details.
The discussions during these dialogues have allowed both parties to advance their relationship and strengthen the institutional framework for cooperation in all sectors, he said.
Pompeo and Esper will also hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts and meet with national security adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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