2+2 dialogue, absolutely on the right track in terms of defence cooperation: James Mattis
On Monday, US defence secretary told the reporters at the Pentagon that the first 2+2 dialogue is on the right track in terms of defence cooperation and it is a defining moment in India US relationship.
Mattis said, “Last week I did go to India for what could only be considered highly successful consultations between the world’s two largest democracies. There was no difficulties that we uncovered there in moving forward on a number of pragmatic steps to draw ourselves closer together in terms of security”.
He added, “It was a very heartening trip, historic I’d even say, as you look at where we’ve been over so many years as we’ve grown closer and closer together”.
Mattis mentioned described the dialogue as highly successful, He said, “Probably we will look back on the 2+2, where Secretary Pompeo led the two of us in there as our senior diplomat. Probably a defining moment for the relationship between the US and India, and one that we think is absolutely on the right track in terms of defense cooperation”.
External affair ministers of India Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman held extensive talks with US secretary of states Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis in New Delhi on September 6, 2018. Leaders of both countries discussed a range of issued including trade, Iran sanctions, Indo-Pacific, terrorism, agreed for India-US tri-service exercise and signed the security pact COMCASA, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement. Under COMCASA India will be able to access the advanced defence technology like armed drones.