INDIA JAPAN 2+2 MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE
The third India-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting was conducted in New Delhi.
WHAT IS 2+2 MINISTERIAL MEETING?
Two ministers on behalf of India ie Defence & EAM meet their counterparts from the other country. (in this case, Japan)
The India-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting was held after a gap of nearly two years, with the last edition held in Tokyo on 8 September 2022.
DOES INDIA HAVE SUCH A DIALOGUE MECHANISM WITH JAPAN ONLY?
No.
India has a 2+2 ministerial level dialogue with the following countries:
- USA
- Japan
- Australia
- Russia
India also has a 2+2 official level dialogue with The UK. (Foreign & Defence Secretaries of the India & UK meet)
WHAT WAS DISCUSSED?
- QUAD & Indo Pacific:
- In a joint statement Tuesday, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Quad, a month after foreign ministers of the grouping met in Tokyo.
- In the joint statement, the ministers highlighted their common strategic vision towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- They reaffirmed the importance of multilateral defence cooperation and exchanges in the Indo-Pacific region
- Space & Cyber Cooperation
- Root out Terror Safe Havens:
- In the joint statement, the two counties “unequivocally” condemned terrorism. The statement also called for bringing the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Pathankot, and other attacks “to justice”.
- It also called for concerted actions against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and their proxy groups.
- The statement also underlined the need to “root out terrorists’ safe havens, eliminate terrorist financing channels, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists”.
- Unicorn:
- Japan’s ‘Unicorn’ (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) naval communication antenna were also discussed during the 2+2 ministerial meeting Tuesday.
- It will accelerate the discussions on the transfer of ‘Unicorn’, the cutting-edge naval communication antennas for warships. Its ability to integrate multiple antennas is said to enhance a warship’s stealth capabilities.
- Exercise Veer Guardian:
- During the talks, Kihara cited Japan and India’s first joint fighter jet exercise as a step in the right direction, according to Yosuke. In January last year, the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and Indian Air Force (IAF) held their maiden bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’.
Joint Statement: https://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sw/in/pageite_000001_00002.html
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