2nd India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi

The second India and the United Kingdom 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 3 December 2024. The first was held in New Delhi in October 2023, and both countries have agreed to hold their third Dialogue next year in the United Kingdom.

The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue is different from the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister Dialogue. 

The 2+2 Foreign and Defence dialogue is a Senior official-level mechanism for discussing and reviewing all aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister Dialogue is a ministerial-level discussion just below in importance, the summit-level meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom.

India does not hold  2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister Dialogue with the United Kingdom.

Read List of countries with which India conducts 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue 

Who Co-Chaired the 2+2 Dialogue?

Representatives from India and the United Kingdom co-chaired the second India and the United Kingdom 2+2 Foreign and Defence dialogue.

Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Europe West, Ministry of External Affairs, and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, Ministry of Defence, represented India.

Ben Mellor, India Director, Indian Ocean Directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and Shimon Fhima, Director Strategic Programmes, Ministry of Defence, led the United Kingdom delegation.

About the Second Dialogue Agenda

During the dialogue, both sides discussed bilateral, regional and international issues. 

They discussed and reviewed all progress made under the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and agreed to revitalise the partnership by identifying new focus areas of collaboration.

They expressed satisfaction with the progress in launching new key initiatives such as the Technology and Security Initiative, Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership, and the Defence Industrial Roadmap.

In a significant breakthrough in India-United Kingdom relations, both countries signed a framework agreement in November 2024 for co-designing, co-creating, and co-producing Electric Propulsion Systems (engines) for the next generation of Indian naval ships.

Read about the India & UK Sign Agreement on Electric Propulsion for Navy (Framework Agreement)