A key US diplomat, Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US State Department, is scheduled to meet with Indian officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry…

A key US diplomat, Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US State Department, is scheduled to meet with Indian officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi on Monday, September 16. This visit is for the inter-sessional meeting of the US-India 2+2 dialogue, as confirmed by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Tejas engine delay likely to be flagged

The dialogue will focus on identifying opportunities to enhance the US-India bilateral partnership, especially in defence cooperation, and expand collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. India is expected to address issues such as delays in the supply of F404 engines for the indigenous Tejas fighter jet and pending military technology tie-ups.

The 2+2 dialogue typically involves the participation of India’s External Affairs Minister and Defence Minister alongside their US counterparts. However, this inter-sessional meeting is at the Joint Secretary level and will lay the groundwork for discussions at the higher ministerial level. Jedidiah P Royal, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, will also participate in the meeting.

The dialogue will focus on identifying opportunities to enhance the US-India bilateral partnership, especially in defence cooperation, and expand collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. India is expected to address issues such as delays in the supply of F404 engines for the indigenous Tejas fighter jet and pending military technology tie-ups.

In addition to these meetings, Donald Lu on Friday attended the ‘Ideas Summit Conference’ hosted by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), where discussions centered on enhancing US-India business and strategic partnerships. The USIBC described his session on X as a “wonderful and beneficial discussion” with its Global Board members.