Indo-US 2+2 meeting

  • India and the USA concluded the 3rd India-USA 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi.
TAKEAWAYS 

  • US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • The US said it will stand by India in confronting threats to its sovereignty, even as the two sides inked an agreement for sharing classified satellite imagery and aeronautical data during their 2+2 ministerial dialogue.
  • The focus of discussions was on ways to jointly deal with these challenges and to boost defence and security cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific
  • The USA reiterated its support to India in defending its territorial sovereignty in the background of the ongoing standoff between India-China.
  • It also referred to the greater threats posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region and by the Covid-19 pandemic in general.

AGREEMENTS SIGNED

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Cooperation in Earth Observations and Earth Sciences.
  • Agreement to extend the duration of the MoU on the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
  • Agreement on the electronic exchange of customs data.
  • Letter of intent regarding cooperation in traditional Indian medicines.
F-18 DEAL

  • The United States of America (USA) offered its F-18 naval fighter jets for the Indian Navy's requirements of combat jets for its aircraft carriers.
  • The aircraft offered by the American government is said to be the advanced version of the plane which was on offer to the Indian Air Force for its requirement of 126 Multirole Medium Combat Aircraft in which only Rafale and European Eurofighter was able to meet the qualitative requirements and finally the French plane was selected.

2+2 DIALOGUE

  • The first two rounds of these dialogues between both the countries were held in 2018 and 2019.
  • It is a format of dialogue where the defence/foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.
  • India holds such talks with Australia, Japan and the USA. 
  • Other countries Pompeo visited – Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.


SOURCE: IE

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