In a joint statement released by the Governments of the United States of America and India, the successful Fifth Annual U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was highlighted as an important milestone in the deepening bilateral relationship between the two nations. The dialogue, held in New Delhi, was attended by high-ranking officials, including Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

During the dialogue, the ministers commended the substantial progress made in transforming U.S.-India relations across various domains, emphasizing the importance of a strengthened U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in ensuring international peace and security. They reiterated their commitment to promoting a resilient, rules-based international order that upholds democracy, human rights, and pluralism while respecting international law, including the UN Charter.

Key discussions centered around developments in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East, Ukraine, and other areas. The ministers expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its humanitarian consequences, vowing to continue providing humanitarian assistance and supporting post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

The ministers also stood with Israel against terrorism, condemning the recent terrorist attacks and calling for adherence to international humanitarian law. They pledged to coordinate with regional partners to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, while working towards a political solution and durable peace.

One of the focal points of the dialogue was the commitment to further deepen the major defense partnership between the two countries. The ministers acknowledged the progress made under the June 2023 Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the pace of cooperation in maritime domain awareness. They looked forward to enhancing service-to-service ties and sharing technologies to address maritime challenges, including in the undersea domain.

Additionally, the ministers appreciated the negotiations for a commercial agreement between General Electric (GE) Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will facilitate the manufacture of GE F-414 jet engines in India. Such partnerships exemplify the collaboration envisioned in the defense industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Efforts to bolster counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation were also discussed. The ministers unequivocally condemned terrorism and its supporters, calling for concerted action against all terrorist organizations. They emphasized the importance of international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, while highlighting the need to counter emerging forms of terrorism and violent extremism.

The dialogue also focused on building science and technology partnerships, with significant progress made in the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). Cooperation in areas such as quantum, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence was applauded, with both sides emphasizing the need for continued strategic partnerships in emerging technologies for global innovation and economic benefit.

Trade and commercial partnerships were celebrated, with bilateral trade projected to exceed $200 billion in 2023. The reinvigorated U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) played a crucial role in resolving long-standing trade concerns, while the "Innovation Handshake" initiative aimed to promote innovation and economic recovery in critical and emerging technologies.

The ministers also discussed multilateral diplomacy and connectivity, reaffirming the importance of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. They applauded the role of the Quad in promoting regional stability and announced India's hosting of the next in-person Quad leaders' Summit in 2024. Additionally, engagements on global challenges, Africa-related cooperation, and India's G20 Presidency were discussed, further strengthening multilateral ties.

The successful 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue demonstrated the deepening strategic partnership between India and the U.S., particularly in areas of defense cooperation, trade, counter-terrorism, and science and technology collaborations. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing shared values and promoting global peace, security, and prosperity.

The U.S. looks forward to hosting the next 2+2 Ministerial, signaling the continued commitment to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.