Australian FM, team in India to boost bilateral ties, strategic alliance in Indo-Pacific

Australian Foreign Minister (FM) Marise Payne along with Defence Minister Peter Dutton has arrived in New Delhi to attend a bilateral 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the top diplomats. The bilateral summit scheduled to be held on Saturday will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EMA S Jaishankar.

New Delhi:Australian Foreign Minister (FM) Marise Payne along with Defence Minister Peter Dutton arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend a bilateral 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the top diplomats. The dialogue between two nations aimed to boost bilateral defence and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and will also be focused on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

"Australian FM @MarisePayne & Defence Minister @PeterDutton_MP arrive in Delhi for the inaugural India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. EAM @DrSJaishankar & RM @rajnathsingh will lead the Indian side for this Dialogue on Saturday. A milestone in India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", tweeted MEA's spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue is scheduled at EAM Jaishankar's Hyderabad House on Saturday. Later in the day, the Australian leaders will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting between Indian and Australian diplomats comes in the wake of growing Chinese aggression in the South China sea.

Read:Indian, Australian ministers meeting to boost bilateral ties

"These inaugural 2+2 discussions are a cornerstone of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is founded on a shared commitment to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” Minister Payne said.

"The relationship between Australia and India is at a historic high, as the nations work together to promote positive regional cooperation. The Ministers will discuss issues including economic security, cyber, climate, critical technology and supply chains," he added.

The inaugural 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is being held under the elevation of India-Australia bilateral relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-Australia Leaders’ Virtual Summit on 04 June 2020.

What are 2+2 talks?

'2+2' is a term adopted in foreign diplomacy that implies the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries. It is a format of dialogue where the defence/foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country. India has held such talks with Japan and the US as well.

After visiting India, the Australian leaders will embark to meet their counterparts in South Korea and the U.S.

Read:Mike Pompeo reaches India, to take part in India-US 2+2 dialogue