New Delhi: India and United States agreed to carry forward their strategic partnership noting that several important milestones were achieved at the first 2+2 Dialogue held in Washington between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar with their American counterparts US Secretary of Defense Dr Mark T Esper and Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo on December 18.

They also look forward for the second annual India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

This 2+2 Ministerial is the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries and provides for a review of the security, defence and strategic partnership between India and the US.

At the Dialogue, both sides positively appraised the growing partnership between India and the United States, and noted that important milestones had been achieved since the inaugural 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi in 2018. Both sides reiterated their commitment to advancing a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

They also committed to further deepen military-to-military cooperation, including between the Indian Navy and the US Navy Fleets under US’ Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command, and Africa Command and intend to expand similar cooperation between their respective Armies and Air Forces. A number of other initiatives to enhance military-to-military cooperation were also agreed upon.

The two sides concluded the Industrial Security Annex during the visit. Priority initiatives have been identified for execution under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) programme. The two nations also concluded a standard operating procedure for this process. These measures are expected to provide momentum to collaboration between the private defence industries of both India and the US. The two sides also agreed to move forward in their engagement in the area of defence innovation.

Earlier, Defence Minister was received at the Pentagon by US Secretary of Defence Dr Esper, with a ceremonial Guard of Honour and accorded a 19-gun salute. Singh and Esper later held delegation level bilateral talks at the Pentagon on further strengthening India-US defence partnership and External Affairs Minister held bilateral talks with his counterpart Secretary Pompeo. Singh also paid floral tributes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery.

After the 2+2 meeting, Singh along with Jaishankar called on US President Donald J Trump at the Oval Office. They were accompanied by US National Security Adviser Ambassador Robert O’Brian.