Ukraine relief, Indo-Pacific boost form core of 2+2 talks

WASHINGTON: Bridging their differences on the crisis in Ukraine, India and the United States, at the 2+2 ministerial dialogue, recommitted to the bilateral strategic partnership, articulated their shared interest in securing a free and open Indo-Pacific, hailed Quad “as a force for global good” and reviewed mutual efforts to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the Russian invasion.

The two countries have also taken the next steps in their defence and space cooperation – they signed a memorandum of understanding on space situation awareness, they will conduct a dialogue on space and artificial intelligence this year, India has become an associate member of the combined maritime forces task force in Bahrain, and the US has acknowledged India’s focus on developing its domestic capabilities and promised to explore co-production and co-development.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar met their American counterparts, secretary of defense Lloyd J Austin and secretary of state Antony J Blinken for separate bilateral conversations, participated in the virtual conversation between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, led delegation level 2+2 talks, and addressed the press on Monday in Washington. Blinken also hosted a dinner for the visitors and Austin. A joint statement was issued at the end of the ministerial dialogue, the first under the Biden administration.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine emerging as a key point of discord in recent weeks, the joint statement found a way to bridge the differences between the two sides. It said that the ministers reviewed mutual efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis and assessed its broader implications. “They urged an immediate cessation of hostilities. The ministerial unequivocally condemned civilian deaths. They underscored that the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, respect for international law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.” India has articulated these principles in its approach to the crisis in the past, but it is the first time they find space in a joint India-US statement.

Blinken said that the US will continue to increase its support to Ukraine, and called on other nations to do the same and condemn Moscow’s increasingly brutal actions. “In our judgement, it is important that all countries, especially those with leverage, press Putin to end the war. And it’s also important that democracies stand together and speak with one voice.” But the secretary of state also noted that India made “very strong statements” in New York at the UN, condemned civilian killings, called for an independent investigation and provided significant humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and placed India’s engagement with Russia in a historical perspective, acknowledging the US’s own reluctance in the past to be a close defence partner.

“India’s relationship with Russia has developed over decades at a time when the US was able to be a partner to India. Today, we are able and willing to be a partner of choice with India across virtually every realm – commerce, technology, education, and security. And that was very much the nature of the conversation we had today,” the secretary of state said.

Commenting on the larger message of the dialogue, political scientist Devesh Kapur at the Johns Hopkins University said, “Major powers will have their own interests, and these interests won’t always coincide.”