WEB DESK
The decision by India and the US to establish a new two-by-two ministerial dialogue has been welcomed by top American experts who believe that it will enhance strategic coordination between the two nations.
According to the White House, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to enhance peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region by establishing a new two-by-two ministerial dialogue, which would elevate their strategic consultations.
Ashley Tellis, a top American expert on the Indo-US relationship, told a news agency that this is a very welcome development. He said, having a joint State-Defence conversation with India makes much more sense than having a State-Commerce dialogue because the convergence between the two countries is much greater on strategic issues in comparison to commercial issues.
The new format would include External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and their American counterparts Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis. The State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told foreign journalists yesterday that no dates have been set yet for the dialogue.
Alyssa Ayres, from the Council on Foreign Relations said, a new format bringing defence and foreign ministries together will up the strategic coordination between New Delhi and Washington.
Vivek Lall, chief executive, US and International Strategic Development, General Atomics, said the dialogue signified the critical strategic importance of the US-India relationship to global order.