India, Japan hold 2+2 ministerial dialogue, call for free, open & rules-based Indo-Pacific
Top military and civil officials from the two countries were also present.
Top military and civil officials from the two countries were also present.
During bilateral talks and the 2+2 meeting, the two sides will review the ongoing cooperation and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements between the two countries.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian side while the Japanese side will be represented by Defence Minister Minorou Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin had a telephonic conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two discussed ways and means to implement the India-US Defence Cooperation Roadmap which was concluded last year.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the Indian side at the dialogue while the American delegation was headed by Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper are on their way to New Delhi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar headed the Indian delegation at the meeting while the Japanese side was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defence Taro Kono.
The broad contours of the dialogue were discussed at a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Bangkok on Sunday.
The inter-sessional meeting is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Mike Pompeo will travel to India, Sri Lanka, Japan and South Korea from June 24 to 30 and the visit is aimed at deepening US partnerships in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
