Both India and the US are keen to deepen their relations for the benefit of people of the two countries and global peace

India will host the third India-US two plus two Ministerial dialogue later this year.

This was revealed by the Ministry of External Affairs after Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla held virtual India-US foreign office consultations with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale on July 7

Both India and the US “agreed to remain in touch and move forward on the bilateral agenda through a range of mechanisms like the 2+2 Ministerial that India will host later this year,” the MEA said in its press release.

It further added that both sides during their review meet, “exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of shared interest. They reaffirmed their commitment to work towards ensuring a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

The MEA further said, both “India and the US agreed on the need to deepen cooperation in the United Nations, especially during India's membership of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022.”

This indicates in categorical terms that India and the US don’t want to take any chance when challenges at defence and strategic level along the Indo-Pacific region are increasing.

Entire gamut of engagements under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including political, economic, commercial, regional and international cooperation came for review in the course of India-US foreign office consultations.

In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, India and the US also agreed to further strengthen the bilateral health partnership, including on pharmaceuticals and vaccine development. They discussed ways to further enhance mutually beneficial trade and people-to-people ties, including through visa facilitation for students and professionals.