India and US will review the entire range of strategic and Defence relations during the second 2 plus 2 dialogue between the two countries in Washington on December 18. The two sides will also make a comprehensive review of cross-cutting foreign policy and Defence and security issues in bilateral ties.
The Indian side will be represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday. The US side will be represented by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper.
Besides taking stock of the growing bilateral relations and provide strategic guidance for their further development, the leaders will also hold a “comprehensive review of cross-cutting foreign policy and Defence and security issues in our relations”, he said. Both sides will also exchange views on salient regional and global issues.
The India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was initiated in September 2018 in order to provide a positive, forward-looking vision for the India-US strategic partnership and to promote synergy in our diplomatic and security efforts, Kumar said.
Since the inaugural edition of this Dialogue in September 2018, relations between India and the US have further expanded, he said.