India-US 2+2 meet to focus on Indo-Pacific region

India and the US will hold their next 2+2 (foreign & defence) ministerial dialogue next week to prepare for President Joe Biden's proposed New Delhi trip for the Quad summit and Republic Day celebrations in January, and review the developments in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

During his visit, US secretary of state Antony Blinken will be accompanied by defence secretary Lloyd Austin and they will meet external affairs minister S Jaishankar, defence minister Rajnath Singh, along with other senior Indian officials. "The secretary will travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The delegation will meet with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific," the State Department said.

ET was first to report that the 2+2 ministerial dialogue will be held in India in November. The two sides will understandably discuss Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and Pacific regions. They will also review decisions taken during PM Modi's US trip.


The State Department on Wednesday said that Blinken will "advance collaborative efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected and resilient."