India, US to hold meet on July 6

and the United States will hold the inaugural 2+2 meeting of their defence and foreign ministers here on July 6, the state department announced on Thursday, ending months of uncertainty caused by postponements and cancellations over scheduling and personnel changes.

Indian officials expect to discuss the indirect impact of US sanctions on Russia and Iran. India‘s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system is at risk of attracting secondary US sanctions unless an exception is made, as proposed and backed by defence secretary James Mattis and secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

This will be the first simultaneous meeting of India’s defence and external affairs ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Sushma Swaraj and their American counterparts Mattis and Pompeo in a format announced last August after a call between Prime Minister Narendra modi and President Donald Trump.

At the meeting, officials will “focus on strengthening strategic, security, and defence cooperation as the United States and India jointly confront global challenges”, the state department said in a statement.

The meeting will be held against the backdrop of growing defence and diplomatic ties and convergence but increasing trade differences caused by Trump’s decision to slap tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminium imports, which India has retaliated against and also challenged at the WTO.

WASHINGTON:India