2+2 talks may be held in Washington on Dec 18

NEW DELHI: The second 2+2 dialogue between India and the US, featuring the foreign and defence ministers of the two sides, is expected to be held in Washington on December 18, people familiar with matter said on Thursday.

The scheduling of the meeting has faced delays over the course of the year. The inaugural 2+2 dialogue was held in New Delhi in September last year. The special format reflects the growing proximity between the two nations on defence and strategic issues.

After concluding two foundational pacts to strengthen military cooperation in the past three years, India and the US are closer to finalising a new pact to deepen defence industry collaboration.

It is expected that the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), which aims to shore up defence cooperation, will be signed during the upcoming dialogue, the people cited above said. The ISA will allow the US government and American original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) to share classified information with private Indian defence firms.

Currently, the US can share such information only with the Indian government and state-run firms . Work on another key foundational pact, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (Beca) for sharing geospatial intelligence, is yet to begin.

Last month, India and the US agreed to a joint statement of intent to deepen defence technology cooperation and interoperability consistent with shared national security interests.

During the first 2+2 meeting, the two sides signed the Communications

Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) to give India access to advanced US hardware.

India is close to inking a ₹17,500-crore deal with the US for naval helicopters. India is buying 24 Lockheed Martin-sikorsky MH-60R helicopters to strengthen the navy’s anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and surveillance capabilities.

This time around, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh will hold talks with their counterparts Pompeo and Mark Esper.