The two countries are expected to discuss strategic, defence and security issues during the two-plus-two dialogue
India and Australia will hold the second two-plus-two Defence and Foreign Ministerial Dialogue next week in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
 
At the Dialogue, while India will be represented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australia will be led by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on November 20, 2023.
 
During the second 2+2 Dialogue, the Ministers from India and Australia are expected to discuss a wide range of strategic, defence and security issues.
 
These discussions would cover bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest, to further advance cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the MEA said.
 
Both sides will also exchange views on shared priorities for strengthening mini-lateral and multilateral cooperation.
 
The two-plus-two Dialogue is a testament to the pursuit of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia. The collaboration is expected to gain further momentum, especially in bilateral defence cooperation.
The two-plus-two Dialogue and the bilateral Defence Ministers’ meeting will serve as platforms for discussing an array of wide-ranging issues of mutual interests, fortifying the strategic ties between the two nations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles who had last visited India in June 2022 within a few weeks of assuming his present office, the MEA said.
 
During his visit, Australian Defence Minister Marles will also attend the Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on November 19, the Ministry of Defence said.
 
EAM S Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Wong will hold the 14th Foreign Ministerial Framework Dialogue (FMFD) on November 21, 2023 to take stock of cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry maintained.

The inaugural India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was held on September 11, 2021 in New Delhi, pursuant to the elevation of the Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the first Virtual Summit held on June 4, 2020.