India, Australia hold 2+2 Dialogue to scale up "scope & complexity" of Defence ties

India and Australia held talks for scaling up Defence cooperation "both in scope and complexity", including in the field of Defence Industry and Technology, at their Secretary-level 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi on December 9.

The 2+2 Dialogue involves engagement between the Defence and Foreign Affairs establishments of the two countries on one platform.

While the India-US-Japan-Australia Quadrilateral does not have a military role yet, India is in a 2+2 Dialogue format individually with all the three other countries in the 'Quad', which is being widely anticipated as a powerful security construct of the future aimed at deterring Chinese assertion in the Indo-Pacific Region. India and the US are to hold a Ministerial-level 2+2 Dialogue in Washington DC later this month.

The Indian delegation at the 2+2 talks with Australia was led by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, while the Australian side was led by Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty and Foreign Secretary Frances Adamson.

While the India-US-Japan-Australia Quadrilateral does not have a military role yet, India is in a 2+2 Dialogue format individually with all the three other countries in the 'Quad', which is being widely anticipated as a powerful security construct of the future aimed at deterring Chinese assertion in the Indo-Pacific Region. India and the US are to hold a Ministerial-level 2+2 Dialogue in Washington DC later this month.

"During the dialogue, issues related to bilateral defence engagements, areas to enhance cooperation in the field of defence industry and defence technology as well as the prevailing regional security concerns were discussed," according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence.

"Defence Secretary conveyed his satisfaction on the ongoing defence engagements between the two Armed Forces and conveyed the commitment of the Ministry of Defence to further enhance the defence cooperation engagements, both in scope and complexity," the statement added.

Before the 2+2 dialogue, both the Defence Secretaries held a bilateral meeting.