India, US discuss Indo-Pacific, regional issues ahead of 2+2 dialogue

TIL Desk/World/Washington/ India and the US have discussed their flourishing defence partnership and opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific as officials from the two countries held a meeting to lay the groundwork for the key 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, the Pentagon has said.

The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Colin Kahl on Friday. The Pentagon said that the 16th US-India Defence Policy Group meeting laid the groundwork for an important 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, as the US and India opened a new chapter in the Major Defence Partnership.

“The Dialogue advanced an ambitious set of bilateral priorities — including information-sharing, high-end maritime cooperation, logistics and defence trade — reflective of the flourishing defense ties between the United States and India,” said Defense Department Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Anton T Semelroth. US and Indian officials exchanged views on regional issues of shared interest, including in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, he said.