India, US '2+2' ministerial dialogue likely this spring

The inaugural 2+2 Indo-US ministerial dialogue between the defence and external affairs ministers is likely to take place here this spring, a top American diplomat has said.

The '2+2' dialogue was announced in June last year after a White House meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Trump and Modi agreed to enhance peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region by establishing a new two-by-two ministerial dialogue, which would elevate their strategic consultations, the White House had said.


External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold talks with their American counterparts Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

"We expect to launch our inaugural '2+2' dialogue with India in Washington this spring, when Secretary Tillerson and Secretary Mattis will meet with their Indian counterparts to further deepen our security ties," Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on Afghanistan yesterday.

However, the date of the meeting was not immediately known.