India and the United States are expected to hold the inaugural edition of the simultaneous meetings of their defence and external affairs ministers — called two-by-two — here in Washington DC in April, according to officials involved in its planning and organisation. The inaugural edition of the ministerial dialogue was expected earlier to take place soon after the announcement, and probably in New Delhi, but did not because of scheduling issues, officials from both countries had said then. Secretary of defense James Mattis, one of the two members of the 2-by-2 dialogue, went to India late September and met his newly appointed counterpart defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman; and called on the prime minister and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. These meetings might have served the purpose of a 2-by-2 ministerial dialogue but did not strictly, when the four would meet together with their respective delegations. Would he, then, call Sitharaman and Swaraj over for dinner?

Source: Hindustan Times January 27, 2018 02:15 UTC