'Indo-US 2+2 talks principal mechanism for translating strategic convergence into tangible outcomes'

Ahead of the the 2+2 ministerial level dialogue between India and the US next week, a top American diplomat on Wednesday said that under the Trump administration the dialogue has become principal mechanism between the two countries for translating strategic convergence into tangible outcomes.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will arrive here next week for the second round of '2+2' dialogue with their US counterparts Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper on December 18.

The inaugural '2+2' Indo-US dialogue was held in New Delhi in September last year.

"In New Delhi, there's been a growing consensus that no relationship matters more when it comes to advancing India's economic and security interests as well as its global aspirations," Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Alice G Wells, told a Washington audience.

Now, the 2+2 dialogue has become the principal mechanism under the Trump administration for translating this strategic convergence into tangible outcomes. It's really contributed to a sea change in recent years and how we do things with India, Wells said.

The outcomes are finally matching the rhetoric, Wells said in her address to Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of President Eisenhower's Historic Visit to India organised jointly by the South Asia Center of the Atlantic Council and The Asia Group.

In her remarks ahead of the US visit by the Indian Defence and External Affairs ministers, Wells said the service to service inter-operability is going to continue to grow as the two countries continue work towards concluding outstanding defence enabling agreements.

For example, the industrial security agreement will allow for new avenues of collaboration between our private sectors on defence researching and co-development, she said. The Industrial Security Agreement has not been signed yet and is in the final stages of being negotiated.

Wells said, "There is a new comfort level between the diplomats and development experts when it comes to working together, whether it's in the QUAD, whether it's on maritime issues, on joint projects like the MCC supported Nepal-India power line, or even in routine consultations in capitals around the world."