India’s first 2+2 dialogue with the US seemed hanging in mid-way even some have speculated that the meeting might get canceled due to the current ties between the countries. But Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday gives a relief to all those anticipations while informing that the 2+2 dialogue will be held in September’s first week. The minister said: “The agenda will be to develop and strengthen strategic defense cooperation and to follow-on with what had transpired during the meeting with Secretary Defence Mattis,”, as per ANI reports.
Worthy to share that the meetings will be held between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while Sitharaman will meet US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. Notably, US has postponed the meet while sighting “unavoidable reasons” as the reason in last month only. Still, the reasons were not disclosed to the public. However, after postponing the 2+2 dialogues the US offered to conduct the hosting for Indian defense minister as per the schedule only that is in July but reports suggest that Indian have denied for the same.
After postponing MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reported on social media that “U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj a short while ago to express his regret and deep disappointment at the U.S. having to postpone the 2+2 Dialogue for unavoidable reasons.”
Notably, India and the US is in disputes due to Indian trade relationship with Iran. Trump administration’s tariff war against country including India has worsened the condition. However, the condition is not severe and the countries are to find a way to resolve the problems and this meeting can play a pivotal role in enhancing the relationship.