India and Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue next week is likely to focus on the different challenges in the Indo-Pacific amid illegal activities by increasingly aggressive China in the region. “The two sides will explore the ways to expand strategic, military and diplomatic ties to work together to deal with various global challenges including Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean Region, South China Sea, etc.,” diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian here on Friday. The dialogue is likely to take place on Monday. However, an official announcement is yet to come.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles are set to visit India to take part in the two-plus-two ministerial dialogue on Monday that is likely to focus on further shoring up strategic ties between the two countries, sources familiar with the matter said. It is learnt that Marles, who is also Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Wong are also likely to watch the Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
There is no official announcement on the ‘2+2’ dialogue or the planned visit to India by Wong and Marles. Sources said the two sides are expected to focus extensively on further ramping up the overall defence and security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in the “2+2” ministerial dialogue.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the talks. Both Australia and India are part of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition that is focused on working towards ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Being the Quad partners, Indian and Australian ministers may have a detailed discussion on the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s growing influence in the region, sources said. The other two members of the Quad are the US and Japan.
The inaugural “2+2′ ministerial dialogue between India and Australia took place in September 2021.India has such a framework for talks with a very few countries including the US and Japan. The latest edition of India-US foreign and defence ministerial dialogue took place in New Delhi on November 10.
Australia is already keen to focus on stronger ties with India as it aims to counter an increasingly aggressive China in the Indo-Pacific region, officials said. India and Australia have been working together to assist the Quad grouping to counter China’s growing dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
