US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo leaves for India to take part in India-US 2+2 dialogue

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has left for India for third edition of 2+2 ministerial dialogue to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday during which two sides are expected to explore ways to furr bolster bilateral defence ties and security cooperation in Indo-Pacific, amidst China flexing its muscles in strategic region.

visit comes a week before US presidential election on vember 3.

"Wheels up for my trip to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia. Grateful for opportunity to connect with our partners to promote a shared vision for a free and open #IndoPacific composed of independent, strong, and prosperous nations," Pompeo tweeted on Sunday.

Pompeo will be accompanied by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Indian side at talks will be represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

high-level talks are taking place in midst of India's festering border row with China in eastern Ladakh as well as renewed global focus on growing Chinese military assertiveness in Indo-Pacific region. Both issues are expected to figure in talks.

India, US and several or world powers have been talking about need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific in backdrop of China's rising military maeuvring in region.

In vember 2017, India, Japan, US and Australia gave shape to long-pending proposal of setting up "Quad" to develop a new strategy to keep critical sea routes in Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

In midst of growing global concern over China's expansionist behaviour, foreign ministers of Quad member nations met in Tokyo on October 6 and reaffirmed ir collective vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

evolving situation in Indo-Pacific region in wake of China's increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. US has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to check China's growing assertiveness.

Ahead of meeting, US State Department said America welcomes India’s emergence as a leading regional and global power.

It also said US was looking forward to working closely with India during latter's upcoming UN Security Council term, starting January 1, 2021.

" United States welcomes India’s emergence as a leading regional and global power. United States looks forward to collaborating closely with India during its upcoming term on UN Security Council,” State Department said.

In a fact sheet, State Department said two countries have a strong and growing bilateral relationship built on shared values and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As world’s oldest and largest democracies, US and India enjoy deeply rooted democratic traditions, it added.

" growth in partnership reflects a deepening strategic convergence on a range of issues. Our cooperation is expanding in important areas including health, infrastructure development, energy, aviation, science, and ,” it said, adding that holding third US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in just over two years demonstrates a high-level commitment to ir shared diplomatic and security objectives.

Pompeo’s visit marks fourth visit to India by a Secretary of State during Trump administration.

According to State Department, recent Quadrilateral Ministerial meeting in Tokyo convened by Pompeo and his counterparts demonstrated strong cooperative ties among Indo-Pacific democracies interested in strengning a rules-based order in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous.

“ Quad has proven to be an effective multilateral mechanism, helping to create resilient supply chains, promote transparency, counter disinformation and increase maritime security,” it said.

India, with its large ecomy, strong support for entrepreneurship and invation, and its growing international trade, is one of world’s leading ecomic powers and is well-positioned to promote our shared vision for a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific where all nations can prosper, it said.

Observing that India and US are expanding cooperation between two militaries, fact sheet said this includes navies, which play a critical role in ensuring freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific.

ting that defence trade has increased significantly over past two decades, State Department said India maintains largest fleets of C-17 and P-8 aircraft outside United States and as of 2020, United States has authorised more than USD 20 billion in defence sales to India.

“ United States and India enjoy robust defence industrial cooperation. Through US- India Defense Techlogy and Trade Initiative, United States and India work toger on co-production and co-development of defence equipment,” it said.

first edition of 2+2 dialogue was held in Delhi in September 2018 after mechanism was approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. second edition of dialogue took place in Washington in December last year. 

(Im: AP)