In 2+2 dialogue, US-Japan discuss enhancing ties with India

As part of a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, the US and Japan have agreed to grow ties with India, along with countries like Australia and South Korea.

Speaking at the US-Japan 2+2 dialogue in Washington, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "The United States and Japan will continue to advance trilateral and multilateral cooperation with other regional partners, notably with the Republic of Korea, Australia, India, and Southeast Asian countries."

The US-Japan 2+2 dialogue includes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

The focus of the statements was to increase engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

While Japanese Defence minister Iwaya said his country will "make efforts to realize free and open Indo-Pacific", Japanese foreign minister said, "will make efforts to realize free and open Indo-Pacific". Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said the 2+2 dialogue is a "testament to our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

India, Japan, Australia, the US have been engaging in dialogues over the Indo-Pacific region. The US last year changed the name of its largest naval commands - the Pacific command - to the Indo-Pacific Command to give a boost to the growing concept while India has set up a separate Indo-Pacific desk in the Ministry of External Affairs. Washington, along with Canberra has announced a number of infrastructure projects in the region. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing India's vision for Indo-Pacific at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last year said, for New Delhi, the concept stands for "Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality".

ASEAN, the IORA groupings are currently discussing the concept.