News Excerpt

Recently, the Indian Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister met their counterparts from the US government, Defence Secretary and Secretary of State respectively, for the fifth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in New Delhi.

Key points of Dialogue

• India and the US are exploring new educational exchanges, steps to facilitate travel between the two countries and ways to reduce visa wait times.
  • In addition, the two are fostering innovation through collaboration in semiconductors, advanced biotechnology, sustainable energy, and space.
• The 2+2 Dialogue undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and discussed multiple partnerships in the areas of trade and investment, technology, and critical and emerging technologies.
• Value and supply chain securitisation of various products and services, partnership in the field of space, engagement in the field of mineral securities, joint efforts in combating terrorism were included in the principals' earlier 2+2 dialogue overview of bilateral relationships.
• Both the countries discussed about tie-up in the field of semiconductors as this is an area which is very important for the future and has made strong achievements in the last 4-5 months.
  

About ‘2+2’ Ministerial dialogue 

• The 2+2 meetings signify the participation of two high-level representatives, Ministers holding Foreign and Defence portfolios, from each of the two countries who aim to enhance the scope of dialogue between them.
• This is a mechanism which enables the 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 a stronger, more integrated strategic relationship in a rapidly changing global environment.

India’s 2+2 Dialogue Partners 

• The US is India’s oldest and most important 2+2 dialogue partner.
  • The first 2+2 dialogue between the two countries was held during the Trump administration in New Delhi in September 2018.
  • It was also seen as a replacement for the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, held between the foreign and commerce ministers of the two countries during the previous Obama administration.
  • The launch of the dialogue was seen as a “reflection of the shared commitment” by India and the US to provide “a positive, forward-looking vision for the India-US strategic partnership and to promote synergy in their diplomatic and security efforts”.
• Additionally, India has held 2+2 meetings with ministers from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and Russia.
• The talks with Japan via this platform began in 2019, with the aim that it would “further enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defence cooperation”.
• The inaugural edition India-Russia 2+2 dialogue was held in 2021.
• The same year, 2+2 dialogue with Australia also began. In October 2023, the first such meeting with the UK took place.
  

Defence and strategic agreements under 2+2

• Over the years, the strategic bilateral relationship with its partners, including the dialogues held in the 2+2 format, has produced tangible and far-reaching results for India.
• India and the US have signed a troika of “foundational pacts” for deep military cooperation, beginning with the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, followed by the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the first 2+2 dialogue in 2018, and then the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020.

 Significance of 2+2 Dialogue 

• The strengthening of cooperation mechanisms between the two militaries is important in the context of an increasingly aggressive China, which threatens a large number of countries in its neighborhood and beyond and has challenged several established norms and aspects of international relations.
• Another example is the establishment of the mechanism with Japan, which is also cautious of China's role.
• However, India also talks to Russia through 2+2 dialogues, keeping in mind its security and energy interests and the countries’ historical depth of relations.
  

Conclusion

The 2+2 dialogue has strategic and economic importance. At present, when the world system is changing and new issues are emerging in various fields, such dialogues become even more important.

Prelims PYQ

Q. What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?  (UPSC 2017)

(a) India's trade with African countries will enormously increase.

(b) India's relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

(c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

(d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

Mains PYQ

Q. What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC 2020)