Elizabeth Roche

The US has strategic dialogue in this format between foreign and defence ministers of two sides with countries like Australia, Japan, the Philippines

India and the US are working toward holding their postponed “2+2” dialogue — talks between their foreign and defence ministers —in July, according to two people with knowledge of the development.

The first-ever dialogue in this format was to be held in April but was postponed because of the sacking of then secretary of state Rex Tillerson. The US has strategic consultations in this format with partners, including Australia, Japan and the Philippines. India has had a similar dialogue with Japan.

A raft of issues will be on the table when Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman meet US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis, said analysts.

“I expect a review of bilateral relations, detailed discussions on China and its role in the region, North Korea, Iran and Russia,” said former foreign secretary and ex-ambassador to the US, Lalit Mansingh.

Tensions between the US and China have been high, because of disputes over trade as well as Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. On India’s part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in April after a tense military standoff between the two countries last year.

India is likely to ask the US to take a more balanced view of New Delhi buying the S-400 Triumf missile defence system from Russia, Mansingh said. India would also ask the US to take a more objective look at India’s ties with Iran given that New Delhi is looking to developing the Chabahar port — seen as an alternative route to reach landlocked Afghanistan where the US has urged India to take on a bigger role to stabilise the wartorn country. On both counts, India and Indian entities could be affected by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA, which was legislated last year.

At a press conference on Monday, Swaraj had said that India would adhere to United Nations sanctions and not those imposed by the US.

On the defence front, the two countries could look at signing some key pacts that would enable easier transfer of technology, Mansingh said. India’s list would contain issues like increased US investments in defence manufacturing and co-production. The US side could pitch for India buying US manufactured jets for the Indian Air Force, he said.

Trade irritants are also likely to figure in the “2+2” dialogue though commercial issues will be pursued separately in talks between trade and commerce ministers of the two countries, Mansingh said. The attempt would be to put a lid on such issues so they do not affect the strategic side of the relationship, he said.

elizabeth.r@livemint.com

Courtesy: Mint: 31 May 2018