India, UK Discuss Collaboration to Tackle Terror, UK PM Rishi Sunak’s Possible Visit at 2+2 Dialogue

India and the UK held the inaugural India-UK ‘2+2’ foreign and defence dialogue on Monday and the talks focused on ways to boost cooperation in a range of key areas such as trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, civil aviation, health and energy, news agency PTI said in a report.

The 2+2 dialogue is a mechanism to discuss and review all aspects of India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership and is held at a senior official level. It was also revealed that India and UK officials are exploring the possibility of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to India later this month.

The two sides also discussed international developments including in the Indo-Pacific region and considered the possibility of enhancing anti-terror collaboration at the senior-official level dialogue. International developments including those in the Indo-Pacific region were also discussed.

Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Europe West) at the MEA and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) at the defence ministry, co-chaired the Indian delegation. Ben Mellor, India Director at the Indian Ocean Directorate in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Lt General Rob Magowan, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Finance and Military Capability at the British Ministry of Defence co-chaired the UK delegation.

India and the UK also considered the possibility of enhancing anti-terror collaboration, the external affairs ministry said.

“(The two sides discussed) possibilities for further collaboration particularly in areas of trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, civil aviation, health, energy, culture and strengthening peoples connect,” the external affairs ministry (MEA) said in a press release.

“The officials had an opportunity to exchange assessments about recent international developments including in the Indo-Pacific region, given their shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity and for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” the statement further added.

The MEA said New Delhi and London considered the possibility of enhancing collaboration in areas of counterterrorism, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) and maritime security.

“Both delegations expressed satisfaction at the regular high-level political exchanges and interactions which have provided guidance and momentum to India-UK multifaceted ties,” the MEA said in its statement.

The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during former UK PM Boris Johnson’s tenure. The relationship was elevated during the India-UK virtual summit in May 2021 during Johnson’s summit with PM Modi.

India and the UK have adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections, among others.