US puts off 2+2 talks with India

Washington, March 18

The first Indo-US two-plus-two dialogue has been postponed due to the uncertainty over the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as the new Secretary of State, an American official said after President Donald Trump fired Rex Tillerson.

The two-day dialogue, announced last summer when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a successful meeting with President Trump at the White House, was tentatively scheduled for April 18-19.

“It has been postponed for now,” an informed US official said. The official wishing anonymity, however, quickly pointed out that it would have no impact on the bilateral relationship as the meetings this week by the foreign and defence secretaries decided to continue with their agenda.

There was no official announcement of the high-level dialogue involving the foreign and defence ministers from the two countries.

India’s foreign and defence secretaries were here early this week for preparatory talks with their American counterparts. The Indian delegation landed in Washington DC amid the firing of Tillerson as the Secretary of State by Trump.

The delegation continued with their meetings both at the State Department and at the Pentagon as scheduled, during which it was decided to hold the dialogue at a later date, which appears unlikely before the summer.

Given the sharp differences between the Republicans and the Democrats in the Senate, officials decided not to take any chance by going ahead with the mid-April date for the two-plus-two talks. — PTI

Were scheduled for April 18-19  

The two-day dialogue, announced last summer when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a successful meeting with President Trump at the White House, was tentatively scheduled for April 18-19

Navy Chief on 5-day visit to US  

• Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is on a five-day visit to the US from March 19 to 23 to explore new avenues of defence cooperation

• In addition to holding bilateral discussions, the Admiral will visit the Pacific Command headquarters at Pearl Harbour, Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC