India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

Both India and Australia agreed to work jointly to realise full potential of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the in-person 2+2 ministerial dialogue with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton respectively on September 11, 2021. The visiting Australian ministers later also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India already has 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with the uS and Japan and is in the process of institutionalising such a framework with Russia.

In June 2020, India and Australia had elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and signed a landmark deal for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support during an online summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. The Australian Navy was part of the recent Malabar naval exercise that also featured navies of India, the US and Japan.

During the 2+2 Dialogue, both countries discussed institutional frameworks for wideranging collaboration including expanding military engagements across services and facilitate greater sharing of critical information in line with their resolve to significantly expand strategic ties. Regional and international developments including the situation in Afghanistan and issues pertaining to the Indo-Pacific region were discussed.

On conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, a joint statement was issued, highlights of which include:

● reaffirmed commitment to fully implement the CSP based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law;

●reiterated importance of advancing shared objective of an open, free, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific region;

● expand cooperation under the 2+2 framework meeting at least every two years;

● mutual resolve to combat COVID-19;

● welcome launch of India-Australia-Japan Supply Chain Resilience Initiativereiterating support to global economic recovery;

PHOTOGRAPH: PIB Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar with Defence MInister of Australia, Peter Dutton and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women, Australia, Marise Payne at the ‘2+2’ Ministerial level meeting between India and Australia, in New Delhi on September 11, 2021.