Washington outlines agenda for 2 + 2 meeting with India for the first time

Since 2016, when India was officially recognised in US law as a 'major defence partner', Washington has purposefully upgraded the defence relationship

Washington’s chief South Asia diplomat, Alice Wells, has for the first time outlined a clear agenda for the inaugural 2 + 2 dialogue in New Delhi on September 6.

Previewing the meeting, for which two US principals – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary for Defense Jim Mattis – will travel to India for joint talks with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Wells said: “What we’re looking for at the upcoming 2+2 ministerial is to discuss how to operationalise India’s status as a major defence partner.”

Since 2016, when India was officially recognised in US