India and Australia Hold 2+2 Secretary-Level Dialogue
On Monday, India and Australia conducted 2+2 Secretary-level Consultations in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, alongside Australia’s Secretary of Department of Defence Greg Moriarty and Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Jan Adams.
The discussions aimed to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and benefit the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Jan Adams, highlighting the importance of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the meeting on social media.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also met with Greg Moriarty, expressing eagerness to enhance defence cooperation between the two nations. Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, emphasized the significance of the meeting in intensifying the security partnership.
The Australia-India relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020, focusing on mutual understanding and a shared vision for a stable Indo-Pacific. Both countries’ leaders regularly interact at international forums, including the Quad, G20, and East Asia Summit. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the ASEAN-India summit in Laos.
Doubts Revealed
2+2 Dialogue -: The 2+2 Dialogue is a meeting format where two countries’ defense and foreign secretaries meet to discuss important issues. It helps in strengthening the relationship between the two countries by focusing on defense and foreign policy.
Secretary-Level Consultations -: Secretary-Level Consultations are meetings where high-ranking officials, like secretaries from different departments, discuss important matters. In this case, it involves defense and foreign secretaries from India and Australia.
Indo-Pacific region -: The Indo-Pacific region is a large area that includes the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean. It is important for trade and security, and many countries, including India and Australia, work together to keep it stable and peaceful.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership -: A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a strong and close relationship between two countries. It involves working together on many important areas like defense, trade, and security to benefit both countries.
External Affairs Minister -: The External Affairs Minister is a government official in charge of managing a country’s relationships with other countries. In India, this role is held by S Jaishankar.
Defence Minister -: The Defence Minister is a government official responsible for a country’s defense and military matters. In India, this role is held by Rajnath Singh.