India, US take key steps to expand partnership

India and the US on Friday explored new ways to expand their strategic partnership to safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of the challenge from an assertive China, even as the two sides unveiled plans to jointly develop and manufacture an armoured infantry vehicle.

- Rezaul H Laskar

The fifth annual 2+2 ministerial dialogue co-chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar and their American counterparts Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken encompassed issues ranging from the defence industry partnership to counterterrorism and cutting edge technologies in sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals.

The dialogue built on several initiatives unveiled during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June when the two sides agreed on the co-production of engines to power India's new combat jets and the supply of 31 MQ-9B Reaper drones and also focused on ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as space, education and health.

Jaishankar, in his opening remarks at the meeting, said the dialogue is an opportunity to "advance the vision of our respective leaders, building a forward-looking partnership while we construct a shared global agenda". Singh added the India-US bilateral relationship has "seen a growing convergence of strategic interests".

Austin said it is more important than ever for the world's two largest democracies to find common goals in the face of urgent global challenges. "We're integrating our industrial bases, strengthening our interoperability and sharing cutting-edge technology. The scope of our cooperation is vast, it stretches from the seabed to space," he added.

Jaishankar also said that ahead of a Quad leaders' summit to be hosted by India early next year, a key focus of the discussions would be the Indo-Pacific. Blinken noted the two countries are promoting a free, open, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific, including by strengthening their partnership through Quad.

"One significant way we're doing that is by enhancing maritime domain awareness, sharing commercial satellite data with countries in the region to boost their capacity...to combat illegal fishing, piracy and drug trafficking," he said.