(Image source from: Tribune India)
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Friday held "broad-based" talks with the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart John Bolton during which they discussed the "future direction" of the strategic Indo-U.S. ties.
Doval's meeting with the top three officials of the Trump administration came a week after the successful India-U.S. 2+2 Dialogue between the defense and foreign ministers of the two countries.
"During the three back-to-back meetings, Doval had good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in New Delhi last week," informed sources told PTI.
India's ambassador to the U.S., Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Doval in these meetings. Describing it "as a very broad-based discussion", the sources said that Doval and the three top Trump administration officials talked about the "future direction" of the strategic relationship and identified areas of co-operation.
Regional issues and global developments too figured in the negotiations, they said, without going into specifics.
Related content: Ajit Doval in U.S. to Meet Pompeo, Top Officials
The U.S. Ambassador to India, Ken Juster in a tweet said that the last week's 2+2 dialogue "set the course for even closer ties" between the two countries. He said India-U.S. partnership is on an upward trajectory.
"We've seen positive momentum regarding the U.S.-India relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with Doval's visit to the U.S.," said the U.S. India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF).
The U.S. and India signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mattis on September 6.
The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the U.S. and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the U.S.
During the 2+2 talks, India and the U.S. As well expressed an earnestness to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing an open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Last week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told a Washington audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-U.S. relationship.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the U.S.-India relationship and the defense relationship in particular on a higher trajectory.
By Sowmya Sangam
