HIGHLIGHTS OF INDIA US 2+2 DIALOGUE

The inaugural India US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman and US counterpart Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Secretary of Defence James Mattis on 6 September 2018 in New Delhi was a reflection of forward looking vision of India US partnership and promote synergy in diplomatic and security coordination and cooperation.

Being strategic partners, the Ministers expressed their committment to work together on regional and global issues, in bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral formats. The two sides further decided to  establish secure communication between the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and the U.S. Secretary of State Michale Pompeo, and between the Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman and the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, to help maintain regular high-level communication on emerging developments. The ministers discussed 1) Strengthening Defense and Security Partnership  2) Partnership in Indo Pacific and beyond  3) Promoting Prosperity and People to People ties.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. The Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of India’s designation as a Major Defense Partner (MDP) of the United States and committed to expand the scope of India’s MDP status.
2. The Ministers welcomed the inclusion of India by the United States among the top tier of countries entitled to license-free exports, re-exports, and transfers under License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA-1).
3. The Ministers welcomed the signing of a Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) that will facilitate access to advanced defense systems and enable India to optimally utilize its existing U.S.-origin platforms.
4. The Ministers announced their readiness to begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defense industry cooperation and collaboration. 
5. The two sides committed to the creation of a new, tri-services exercise and to further increase personnel exchanges between the two militaries and defense organizations.
6. The Ministers reviewed the recent growth of bilateral engagements in support of maritime security and maritime domain awareness, and committed to expand cooperation.
7. Ministers committed to start exchanges between the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Indian Navy, underscoring the importance of deepening their maritime cooperation in the western Indian Ocean.
8. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue to encourage and prioritize co-production and co-development projects through the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
9. The Ministers welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Intent between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Defence Innovation Organization – Innovation for Defence Excellence (DIO-iDEX).
10. The Ministers announced their intent to increase information-sharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters and committed to enhance their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and FATF.
11. They reaffirmed their support for a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation.
12. The Ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries.
13. On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, they called on Pakistan to bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, and other cross-border terrorist attacks.
14. The Ministers welcomed the launch of a bilateral dialogue on designation of terrorists in 2017, which is strengthening cooperation and action against terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company, and their affiliates.
15. The Ministers reviewed cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and committed to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, based on recognition of ASEAN centrality and on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, rule of law, good governance, free and fair trade, and freedom of navigation and overflight.
16. Noting the importance of infrastructure and connectivity for the Indo-Pacific region, both sides emphasized the need to work collectively with other partner countries to support transparent, responsible, and sustainable debt financing practices in infrastructure development. 
17. The Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to a united, sovereign, democratic, inclusive, stable, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan. The United States acknowledged India’s longstanding and ongoing contributions of economic assistance to Afghanistan and also welcomed India’s enhanced role in Afghanistan’s development and stabilization. 
18. The United States welcomed India’s accession to the Australia Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Missile Technology Control Regime and reiterated its full support for India’s immediate accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. 
19. The Ministers recognized the importance and the potential for increasing bilateral trade, investment, innovation, and job creation in both countries.
20. Both sides looked forward to full implementation of the civil nuclear energy partnership and collaboration between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company for the establishment of six nuclear power plants in India. 
21. Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Mattis met PM Modi to convey the importance attached by President Trump to deepening strategic partnership between US and India, and US support for India’s role as a leading Global Power and Regional Security provider.
22. The next 2+2 meeting is to be held in the United States in 2019.