India-US Hold 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue, Focus On Strategic, Defense Priorities

The officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence and the US State and Defence Departments attended the 2+2 Intersessional on Monday.

IMAGE: IANS

Senior officials from the United States and India met on Monday in New Delhi for the eighth U.S.-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue, signaling continued progress in the Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Leading the U.S. delegation were Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Jedidiah P. Royal, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. Their Indian counterparts included Nagaraj Naidu, Joint Secretary for the Americas at the Ministry of External Affairs, and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary for International Cooperation from the Ministry of Defense.

The dialogue advanced key areas of collaboration, with discussions focusing on defense cooperation, space and civil aviation partnerships, clean energy initiatives, and industrial and logistical coordination. The officials reviewed critical developments across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, including the situation in Ukraine and efforts to support a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties alongside governmental cooperation. Assistant Secretary Lu and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Royal underscored the U.S.’s dedication to enhancing its partnership with India in line with mutual strategic interests.

This Intersessional Dialogue also paved the way for the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, where both nations will continue to explore ways to advance their shared priorities in global and regional security, technology, and economic growth.

The U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue serves as a crucial platform for aligning the two countries' strategic goals and addressing global challenges collaboratively.