- Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in the national capital to participate in the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and their Australian counterparts Richard Marles and Penny Wong will hold discussions to further advance cooperation.
- The External Affairs Ministry said that the ministers are expected to discuss a wide range of strategic, defence and security issues.
- Australia committed to partner with India more closely: Wong
- The situation in the Middle East in view of the Hamas-Israel conflict, China’s increasing military muscle flexing in the Indo-Pacific and issues relating to regional security are expected to figure in the talks.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will engage in bilateral meetings with their counterparts Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar. India shares a comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia and will discuss a range of issues.
India and Australia are expected to hold talks on a wide range of strategic, defence and security issues as the Defence and Foreign ministers of both countries meet for the second 2+2 ministerial dialogue on Monday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and their Australian counterparts Richard Marles and Penny Wong will hold discussions to further advance cooperation under the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Announcing India’s hosting of the dialogue, the External Affairs Ministry on Saturday said that the ministers are expected to discuss a wide range of strategic, defence and security issues.
The situation in the Middle East in view of the Hamas-Israel conflict, China’s increasing military muscle flexing in the Indo-Pacific and issues relating to regional security are expected to figure in the talks, people familiar with the preparation for the dialogue said.
The MEA said the discussions would cover bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest to further advance cooperation under the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. “Both sides will also exchange views on shared priorities for strengthening multilateral and multilateral cooperation,” it said. Singh and Jaishankar will also hold separate bilateral talks with their Australian counterparts.
The MEA said the ministers are expected to discuss the situation in West Asia in view of the Israel-Hamas war, China’s increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, India’s recent diplomatic row with Canada, and the Russia-Ukraine war. The MEA said the ministers are expected to discuss the situation in West Asia in view of the Israel-Hamas war, China’s increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, India’s recent diplomatic row with Canada, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The discussions will also cover bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest to further advance cooperation under the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, it said. The inaugural ‘2+2’ ministerial dialogue between India and Australia took place in September 2021.
(With inputs from agencies)
