The 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and the US in New Delhi this week holds the potential to strengthen their strong collaboration, especially in the field of defense, believes Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute.
“The upcoming fifth US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, set to bring together top officials from both nations in India this week, carries the promise of deepening a robust partnership that has seen remarkable progress, particularly in the realm of defence cooperation,” she was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
According to Aamer, the discussion is occurring at a crucial moment when the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Ukrainian crisis are both looming large. The strategic dynamics and global perspective of both countries are influenced by this backdrop, she said, even though these conflicts may not be directly related to the US-India relationship.
“On the Israel-Hamas conflict, India is much more aligned with the Quad nations, which is indicative of India’s deepening engagement with like-minded partners on pressing international challenges,” she said.
“Additionally, the US may reiterate its call for India’s cooperation with the Canadian probe, stressing the importance of adhering to international conventions. This diplomatic tangle may pose a challenge, but it also serves as a reminder that differences over specific issues won’t derail the overall momentum in bilateral ties,” she said.
“Beyond these challenges, the dialogue aims to expand the scope of cooperation into a diverse array of domains. This is not solely about defence, but encompasses climate, energy, health, counterterrorism, education, and people-to-people ties,” Aamer said.
“The focus in the defence sector, at present, is on technology transfer and co-production, underlining the importance of innovation in fostering military capabilities. The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is expected to be on the agenda, as is the promotion of innovation through the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X),” she said.
“On the Israel-Hamas conflict, India is much more aligned with the Quad nations, which is indicative of India’s deepening engagement with like-minded partners on pressing international challenges,” she added.
“Additionally, the US may reiterate its call for India’s cooperation with the Canadian probe, stressing the importance of adhering to international conventions. This diplomatic tangle may pose a challenge, but it also serves as a reminder that differences over specific issues won’t derail the overall momentum in bilateral ties.”
“Beyond these challenges, the dialogue aims to expand the scope of cooperation into a diverse array of domains. This is not solely about defence, but encompasses climate, energy, health, counterterrorism, education, and people-to-people ties.”
“The focus in the defence sector, at present, is on technology transfer and co-production, underlining the importance of innovation in fostering military capabilities. The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is expected to be on the agenda, as is the promotion of innovation through the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X).”
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