MELBOURNE: Fourth India-Australia 2+2 Secretary-level Consultations

MELBOURNE: The fourth India-Australia 2+2 Secretary-level Consultations were held today in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri, while the Australian side was led by Secretary, Department of Defence (DoD) Mr. Greg Moriarty and Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) Ms. Jan Adams. The last 2+2 Secretary-level Consultations were held in 2019, following which 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was initiated in September 2021.

The two sides reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in November 2023 and preparations for the next Ministerial Dialogue to be held in 2025. The meeting offered an opportunity for both sides to review the status of bilateral engagements in the context of emerging regional and global scenarios.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues such as political and strategic, defence and security including defence technology and industry cooperation, trade and investments, education, cyber & new emerging technologies, critical minerals, renewable energy, space, counter-terrorism and people-to-people ties. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Both sides called for continued strengthening of bilateral cooperation in various fora, including Quad and G20 and reiterated their commitment for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity, stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as further advancing the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Secretaries agreed to hold the inter-sessional 2+2 Foreign and Defence Secretaries Dialogue biennially and to continue these discussions ahead of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Secretary Moriarty called on Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 14 Oct 2024, and Secretary Adams called on External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar. Bilateral meetings were also held between the Defence Secretaries and Foreign Secretaries.