Yesterday, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Bethany P. Morrison and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal co-chaired the virtual U.S.-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue alongside Indian Ministry of External Affairs Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur and Indian Ministry of Defense Joint Secretary Vishwesh Negi.
Through this dialogue, officials advanced bilateral initiatives, discussed regional security developments, and exchanged perspectives on a number of shared strategic priorities. They discussed trade and investment; energy security, including strengthening civil-nuclear cooperation; critical minerals exploration; counternarcotics and counterterrorism cooperation; and more.
Both sides looked forward to increasing defense cooperation, including signing a new ten-year Framework for the U.S. India Major Defense Partnership, as well as advancing defense industrial, science, and technology cooperation; operational coordination; regional cooperation; and information-sharing.
Participants agreed to build upon the progress made in these areas under the auspices of the U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century and beyond.
The chairs reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific region through the Quad.
The dialogue concluded with the chairs expressing their appreciation for the productive meeting and eagerness to continue enhancing the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship in a manner that benefits the people of America and India.
