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{{Short description|Diplomatic summit}}
{{Infobox geopolitical organization
| conventional_long_name = 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
| common_name = 2+2
| linking_name =
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| official_languages = {{hlist|[[Hindi]]|[[English language|English]]|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]||[[Russian language|Russian]]}}
| membership = {{IND}} {{USA}} {{JAP}} {{AUS}} {{RUS}} {{UK}} {{BRA}} 
}}
[[File:Secretary Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Esper Host the India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (49239817267).jpg|thumb|From left to right: [[Rajnath Singh]], [[S. Jaishankar|Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]], [[Mike Pompeo]], and [[Mark Esper]] during the second 2+2 summit on December 18, 2019]]
The '''2+2 Ministerial Dialogue''' is a diplomatic summit that has been held every year since 2018 initially between the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]] or Foreign Minister, and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence Minister]] of [[India]] with the [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] and [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] of the [[United States]] to discuss and work on common issues of concern to improve and strengthen [[India–United States relations]].

In 2019, the summit involved the respective Foreign and Defence ministers between both India and [[Japan]]. In 2021, the summit was expanded to meetings with the Foreign and Defence ministers of [[Australia]] and [[Russia]].

==History==
The dialogue came to existence from an agreement between [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] and [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]]. The dialogue was created to replace the [[Strategic and Commercial Dialogue]] which started under the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]]. Both nations agreed to the summit during Modi's visit to the United States in June 2017 which was officially announced the following month in August after a phone call between Modi and Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-india-us-would-have-discussed-in-22-dialogue-5243151/|title=What India, US would have discussed in '2+2' dialogue|work=The Indian Express|date=July 3, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

The first summit was supposed to be held on July 6, 2018, in [[Washington, D.C.]], but had been postponed by India's Defence Minister, [[Nirmala Sitharaman]], citing "unavoidable reasons".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-22-delay-india-declines-us-offer-to-host-nirmala-sitharaman-5239482/|title=After 2+2 delay, India declines US offer to host Nirmala Sitharaman|work=The Indian Express|date=June 30, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> This was the third time the dialogue was postponed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/online-articles/us-india-22-dialogue|title=The U.S.-India 2+2 Dialogue|work=Journal of International Affairs|date=September 3, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===2018===
The first summit was held on September 6 between the Minister of External Affairs, [[Sushma Swaraj]], Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]], and Secretary of Defense [[Jim Mattis]] in [[New Delhi]]. The meeting between both sides reaffirmed the U.S.'s designation of India as a "Major Defense Partner". India was granted license-free exports, re-exports, and transfers under the License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization. India and the U.S. signed a Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement which facilitates interoperability between militaries and sale of high-end technology. The summit resulted in both sides beginning negotiations for the Industrial Security Annex which would allow U.S. defense firms to sell military equipment to Indian partners.

Among other things that were agreed upon was continuing to deepen cooperation in counterterrorism, [[Afghan peace process|facilitate peace]] in [[Afghanistan]], increase further economic cooperation, and the establishment of six nuclear power plans in India between [[Nuclear Power Corporation of India]] and [[Westinghouse Electric Company]]. Representatives from both countries agreed to turn the meeting into an annual affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.usembassy.gov/joint-statement-on-the-inaugural-u-s-india-22-ministerial-dialogue/|title=Joint Statement on the Inaugural U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue|work=U.S. Embassy in India|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===2019===
[[File:Secretary Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Esper Host the India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (49239817617).jpg|thumb|Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper meeting with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on December 18, 2019, for the second 2+2 summit]]

The second summit was held on December 18 in Washington, D.C., between Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense [[Mark Esper]], Minister of External Affairs, [[S. Jaishankar]], and Minister of Defense [[Rajnath Singh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.usembassy.gov/2019-u-s-india-22-ministerial-dialogue/|title=2019 U.S. – India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue|work=U.S. Embassy in India|date=December 13, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> The meeting revolved most of the areas of concern from the previous year. The ministers and secretaries welcomed the [[Quadrilateral Security Dialogue]] that was held between India, the United States, Australia, and [[Japan]] in September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/32227/Joint+Statement+on+the+Second+IndiaUS+2432+Ministerial+Dialogue|title=Joint Statement on the Second India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue|work=Ministry of External Affairs|date=December 19, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

The meeting resulted in both countries signing the Industrial Security Annex which allowed one-hundred and fourteen fighter jets to be sold to India. Both sides were still negotiating the final details of signing the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ties-with-us-set-to-deepen-rajnath-singh/article61605050.ece|title=Industrial Security Annex opens Indian private partnerships for U.S. defence firms|work=The Hindu|date=December 19, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===2020===
[[File:India-USA 2+2 Dialogue, in New Delhi on October 27, 2020.jpg|thumb|From left to right: Mark Esper, Mike Pompeo, Rajnath Singh, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during the third 2+2 summit on October 27, 2020]]

The third summit was held on October 27 in New Delhi where both sides announced the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation and with the United States vowing to support India's "territorial sovereignty and liberty" which was a response to the [[2020–2022 China–India skirmishes|May skirmishes]] between India and [[China]]'s armed forces at the disputed region of their border known as the [[Line of Actual Control]]. Secretary Pompeo described the [[Chinese Communist Party]] as "no friend to democracy". Both sides also discussed combating the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-us-22-dialogue-rajnath-singh-raises-chinas-action-in-ladakh/article61713564.ece|title=India-U.S. 2+2 dialogue - U.S. to support India's defence of territory|work=The Hindu|date=October 27, 2020|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===2021===
In November, it was announced that the fourth meeting between India and the U.S. would be held in November and have the possibility of both Narendra Modi and President [[Joe Biden]] meeting in Washington, but no date was set for the summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-us-will-hold-2-2-talks-in-november-101630779444158.html|title=India, US will hold 2+2 talks in November|work=Hindustan Times|date=September 5, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> In October, officials from both countries had discussed regional issues during the sixteenth US-India Defence Policy Group meeting that was said to lay the groundwork for the next 2+2 dialogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-us-discuss-indo-pacific-regional-issues-ahead-of-2-2-dialogue-2569998|title=India, US Discuss Indo-Pacific, Regional Issues Ahead Of 2+2 Dialogue|work=NDTV|date=October 9, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

On December 16, the Minister of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, announced that a 2+2 was unlikely to be held in 2021 as details including a date had yet to be finalized.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/diplomacy/india-us-22-dialogue-unlikely-this-year-details-being-worked-out-mea-says/782824/|title=India-US 2+2 dialogue unlikely this year, details being worked out, MEA says|work=The Print|date=December 16, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> However, no 2+2 summit was held in 2021.

===2022===
In March, it was announced that India and the U.S. would hold the 2+2 meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 11 between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]], and Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-us-to-hold-22-dialogue-on-april-11/articleshow/90526180.cms|title=India, US to hold 2+2 dialogue on April 11|work=The Economic Times|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> Singh was expected to be in the U.S. from April 10 to 13.<ref name="Japan 2022"/> The summit was held in Washington on April 11, with both sides looking forward to India hosting the next summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/fourth-annual-u-s-india-22-ministerial-dialogue/|title= Fourth Annual U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue |work=United States Department of State|date=April 11, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref>

After the summit, Antony Blinken remarked during the press conference that the U.S. was monitoring the rise in abuses of human rights in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/us-monitoring-rise-rights-abuses-india-blinken-says-2022-04-11/|title=U.S. monitoring rise in rights abuses in India, Blinken says|work=Reuters|date=April 11, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref> Three days later on the thirteenth, Jaishankar rebuked that India had concerns about human rights in the U.S. citing hate crimes against members of the Indian community in New York. But mainly attributed the attacks on human rights in India under the premiership of Narendra Modi to "lobbies and the vote banks which drive that."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-reacts-to-blinkens-rise-in-human-rights-abuses-in-india-remarks-shows-concerns-over-cases-in-us-470876|title='We look at US human rights too': Jaishankar refers to recent attacks on Indian community|work=WION|date=April 14, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref>

===India and Japan===
On November 30, 2019, India and Japan held their first 2+2 meeting in New Delhi between [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister]] [[Toshimitsu Motegi]], [[Minister of Defense (Japan)|Defense Minister]] [[Taro Kono]], Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, and Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/32131/Joint+Statement++First+IndiaJapan+2432+Foreign+and+Defence+Ministerial+Meeting|title=Joint Statement - First India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting|work=Ministry of External Affairs|date=November 30, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

The meeting was seen as a deepening of relations between India and Japan in light of their mutual tension with [[China]] and concern with China's assertiveness in expanding not only its influence but also control in regional issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/column/india-japan-22-dialogue-an-eyesore-for-china/20191203.htm|title=India-Japan 2+2 dialogue: An eyesore for China|work=Rediff|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

In April 2022, it was announced that India and Japan would hold their second 2+2 meeting in Tokyo in mid-April with Singh and S. Jaishankar meeting with their counterparts Defence Minister [[Nobuo Kishi]] and Foreign Minister [[Yoshimasa Hayashi]].<ref name="Japan 2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/apr/05/india-japan-2-2-dialogue-set-to-take-place-in-mid-april-in-tokyo-2437930.html|title=India, Japan 2+2 dialogue set to take place in mid-April in Tokyo|work=The Indian Express|date=April 5, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> However, no meeting was held in Tokyo as instead the meeting was changed to take place in September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-japan-22-dialogue-set-to-take-place-next-month-in-tokyo/articleshow/93761075.cms|title=India, Japan 2+2 dialogue set to take place next month in Tokyo|work=The Economic Times|date=August 24, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref> The meeting took place on September 8 in Tokyo with S. Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh meeting with Prime Minister [[Fumio Kishida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/india-and-japan-hold-22-ministerial-dialogue/|title=India and Japan Hold 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue|work=The Diplomat|date=September 8, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref>

===India and Australia===
From September 10 to 12, 2021, India and Australia, held their first 2+2 summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-australia-to-hold-22-ministerial-dialogue-on-sept-10-12-7499746/|title=India, Australia to hold '2+2 ministerial dialogue' on Sept 10-12|work=The Indian Express|date=September 9, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

India was represented by the Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, and Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh. Australia was represented by [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] [[Marise Payne]] and [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Defense Minister]] [[Peter Dutton]]. The summit was held in New Delhi, with both countries sharing mutual interests with the United States and Japan over China's ambitions. Both sides held the forum after Narendra Modi and [[Prime Minister of Australia|Australian Prime Minister]] [[Scott Morrison]] agreed to upgrade the relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership after a virtual summit in June 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/australia-india-22-dialogue-converging-interests/|title=Australia-India 2+2 Dialogue: Converging Interests|work=The Diplomat|date=September 16, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

Both sides agreed to further expand cooperation by holding the summit once every two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/34250/Joint_Statement_on_Inaugural_IndiaAustralia_22_Ministerial_Dialogue_11_September_2021_New_Delhi|title=Joint Statement on Inaugural India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (11 September 2021, New Delhi)|work=Ministry of External Affairs|date=September 11, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===India and Russia===
[[File:Putin with Modi.jpg|thumb|Vladimir Putin with Narendra Modi for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi on December 6, 2021]]

On November 26, 2021, it was announced India and Russia would hold a 2+2 summit on December 6 with [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs]] [[Sergey Lavrov]] and [[Minister of Defence (Russia)|Defence Minister]] [[Sergei Shoigu]] with their respective Indian counterparts S. Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh. The meeting included the possibility of [[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] visiting India meeting with Narendra Modi during the summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-russia-inaugural-22-dialogue-on-december-6-russian-embassy/articleshow/87931489.cms|title=India, Russia inaugural '2+2' dialogue on December 6: Russian embassy|work=The Economic Times|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> The agreement for such a summit was made in agreement during a phone call on April 28 between Putin and Modi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/34541/Inaugural+22+Dialogue+of+the+Foreign+and+Defence+Ministers+of+India+and+the+Russian+Federation|title=Inaugural 2+2 Dialogue of the Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and the Russian Federation|work=Ministry of External Affairs|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> Lavrov described the summit by stating, "I'm confident that the new mechanism is going to turn into an efficient dialogue platform to talk about a wide range of regional and international topics a little further deepening our traditional, mutual understanding. It'll help reinforce our specially privileged strategic partnership between our countries".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/2-2-dialogue-will-turn-into-efficient-platform-russian-fm-lavrov-121120600615_1.html|title=2+2 dialogue will turn into efficient platform: Russian FM Lavrov|work=Business Standard|date=December 6, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

Putin arrived in India for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi on December 6, which was being held along with the 2+2 summit. An agreement was reached by both sides with India producing more than six hundred thousand [[Kalashnikov rifle]]s and a military and technical cooperation pact was agreed upon lasting until 2031 which included a pledge to boost annual trade to thirty billion dollars by 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/putin-modi-discuss-trade-humanitarian-situation-afghanistan-2021-12-06/|title=India, Russia strike trade, arms deals during Putin visit|work=Reuters|date=December 6, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

===India and United Kingdom===
The inaugural India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 16 October 2023. The Indian delegation was co-chaired by [[Piyush Srivastava]], Joint Secretary Europe West, and [[Vishwesh Negi]], Joint Secretary, International Cooperation. The UK delegation was co-chaired by [[Ben Mellor]], India Director, Indian Ocean Directorate and [[Robert Magowan]], Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Finance and Military Capability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/37191/Inaugural+IndiaUK+22+Foreign+and+Defence+Dialogue|title=Inaugural India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue|work=Ministry of External Affairs|date=October 16, 2023|access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Australia|Russia|United Kingdom|United States|Politics}}
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[Foreign relations of Australia]]
* [[Foreign relations of Japan]]
* [[Foreign relations of Russia]]
* [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Foreign relations of the United States]]
* [[India–United States relations]]
* [[India–Japan relations]]
* [[India–Russia relations]]
* [[India–United Kingdom relations]]
* [[Australia–India relations]]
* [[C5+1]]
* [[Quadrilateral Security Dialogue]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of Australia}}
{{Foreign relations of Japan}}
{{Foreign relations of Russia}}
{{Foreign relations of the United Kingdom}}
{{Foreign relations of the United States}}
{{India–United States relations}}

[[Category:2018 in international relations]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in India]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in India]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in the United States]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in Japan]]
[[Category:India–United States relations]]
[[Category:India–Japan relations]]
[[Category:India–Russia relations]]
[[Category:India–United Kingdom relations]]
[[Category:Australia–India relations]]

2 2 Ministerial Dialogue - Revision history

ResearcherFacts at 06:58, 29 August 2025