India-US 2+2 Dialogue held at Washington,December 18, 2019

India-US 2+2 Dialogue held at Washington

December 18, 2019

On December 18, 2019, India and the United States held security dialogue in Washington. This was their second 2+2 dialogue.

Highlights

The countries signed an industrial security agreement allowing defense technology transfer. The US secretary Mike Pompeo and defense secretary Mark Esper hosted the meeting for Indian external affairs minister Shri Jai Shankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The countries signed agreements on space exploration and defense cooperation. Three agreements under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) were signed that will help in co-developing critical technologies. They also discussed the efforts put in by the countries together for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at the center.

The leaders also reached MoU on water resources. The agreement will be signed between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the US Geological Survey on quality assessment and management of water.

The countries signed Industrial Security Annex that will enhance technology transfer and information exchange

Industrial Security Annex

The Industrial Security Annex is a part of the General Security of Military Information Agreement. The ISA will provide a framework to pursue and co-develop linkages in defense manufacturing. It will also add value to the Make in India initiative. It will also help in developing manufacturing corridors that have been launched in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The first 2+2 dialogue was held in New Delhi in September 2018.