New Delhi: Preparations are on for the second 2+2 Indo-US Ministerial Dialogue which is expected to take place in Washington DC next month.
“We are in the process of being finalised, it will take place early December and this time the venue is in Washington DC. Accompanied by a high-level official delegation Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet their counterparts to discuss enhancing military cooperation and trade as well as global issues of mutual interests,” top sources said.
It is also understood that President Donald Trump is planning a visit to India in 2020 based on an invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently on his visit to Houston and New York. “There has been speculation around a visit for India’s Republic Day; however plans for a trip have not been finalised. And most likely during the Dialogue, this too will be discussed,” sources added.
The two countries are looking to expand trade ties and in this context the Industrial Security Annex agreement is expected to be announced at the 2+2 Dialogue and also Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Framework for DTTI.
At a recently concluded 9th DTTI Group meeting between Subhash Chandra, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence and from the US Department of Defence Ms Ellen M Lord, Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, potential new DTTI projects have been identified.
The two countries have concluded over US$18 billion in defence trade and due to major orders from India, thousands of jobs in the defence sector have been created in the US. And, now, expectations are high that the next few years will see a multiple fold increase in trade between both countries.
Sources indicate near term government to government contracts that are expected to be concluded include 24 Lockheed Martin MH60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters for Indian Navy, as well as 30 General Atomics armed drones for all three services. Another potential project in the near term is a order for six more Boeing Apaches to be used by the Indian Army.
