New Delhi, Nov 20 — The second two-plus-two ministerial dialogue between the Defence and Foreign Ministers of India and Australia is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Monday. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, will embark on a two-day visit, arriving on Sunday for the discussions.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will co-chair the talks with their Australian counterparts. Ahead of the two-plus-two dialogue, the ministers will engage in a bilateral meeting.
The first two-plus-two ministerial dialogue between India and Australia occurred in September 2021. The ongoing pursuit of a comprehensive strategic partnership will likely receive further momentum during Minister Marles’ visit, particularly in the realm of bilateral defence cooperation.
The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues of mutual interest during both the two-plus-two dialogue and the bilateral meeting. As part of the visit, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister will also attend the World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Sunday.
