Picture : Twitter / ANI
India and the US began a high-level dialogue aimed at further ramping up their overall defence and security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at a time China is attempting to expand its economic and military clout in the region. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the third edition of the 2+2 talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper.
“Today is a great opportunity for two great democracies to grow closer. We’ve a lot to discuss today-to cooperate amid pandemic, to confront Chinese Communist party’s threats to security and freedom, to promote peace and stability in the region,” US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, said.
Delhi: India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue underway at Hyderabad House.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper are attending it. pic.twitter.com/1OWPFZwSOk
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2020
The in-person talks are taking place at a time when India is locked in a tense standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and the Trump administration’s growing friction with Beijing over a host of issues including trade tariff and the Chinese military’s offensive manoeuvres in the South China Sea.
The situation in eastern Ladakh and China’s overall aggressive behaviour including in the Indo-Pacific region are likely to figure in the talks, according to sources. In a reflection of growing bilateral defence ties, the two sides will seal a long-negotiated pact called BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) during the talks that will provide for sharing of high-end military technology, geo-spatial maps and classified satellite data.
The agreement will give India access to classified geo-spatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications. Esper and Pompeo arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit for the talks which are taking place just a week before the presidential election in the US.
