In a pivotal prelude to the fifth edition of the India-US '2+2' ministerial dialogue, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in talks centered around the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict. The meeting aimed at deepening the India-US strategic partnership addressed key regional issues, as reported by PTI.?

Jaishankar took to 'X' to describe the discussions with his US counterpart as "open and productive," shedding light on the focus areas such as West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

Notably, Blinken, actively involved in diplomatic efforts related to the Israel-Hamas war, joined US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Delhi for the upcoming '2+2' dialogue.

The 2+2 ministerial talks featured the participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, leading the American delegation, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh led the Indian side.

Jaishankar, in his opening remarks, emphasized the opportunity to advance the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, aiming to construct a forward-looking partnership and shape a collective global agenda. He stated, "Our dialogue today will be an opportunity to advance the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to build a forward-looking partnership and construct a shared global agenda."

Blinken, echoing the sentiments of cooperation, highlighted the joint pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the significance of the US-India partnership within the Quad framework. He underlined the commitment to reinforcing collaboration in international peace and security, particularly in upholding a rules-based order and respecting principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

Rajnath Singh, emphasizing the growing strategic convergence and enhanced defense cooperation between India and the US, declared, "Defence cooperation remains one of the most important pillars of our bilateral relationship." He expressed eagerness to closely collaborate with the US across various domains of capability building.

US Defense Secretary Austin underscored the urgency of exchanging views between the world's two largest democracies in the face of global challenges. He stated, "In the face of urgent global challenges, it is more important than ever that the world's two largest democracies exchange views, find common goals and deliver for our people." Austin also expressed optimism about the strong ties between the two nations, providing hope for a more secure world through collaborative efforts.

Notably, the discussions included exploration of cooperation in new domains such as critical technologies, civil outer space collaboration, and critical minerals, reflecting the commitment to advancing shared interests and building a resilient Indo-Pacific region.