India- Australia 2+2 Dialogue- Strengthening Strategic Ties to Deal With Exceptional Challenges | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

2+2 Talks Overview

• The 2+2 dialogue involves meetings between India's foreign and defense ministers with their counterparts from key allies, focusing on strategic and security matters.
• It facilitates a deeper understanding of each other's strategic concerns and political factors, fostering a stronger strategic relationship in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Participants and Partnerships:

• India engages in 2+2 dialogues with significant partners like the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia, aiming to enhance strategic collaboration.
• Among these partners, the US holds the position of India's oldest and most crucial dialogue partner.

Economic Relations:

• Australia has taken steps to foster economic ties with India, commissioning the India Economic Strategy to 2035 in 2018 to explore opportunities arising from India's economic growth.
• The India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was established in 1989, promoting interaction between governments and businesses on trade and investment-related matters.
• Discussions are ongoing for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to expand market access for goods and services exporters, with both countries exchanging their respective offer lists.

Strategic Aspects and the Quad

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) was informally initiated in 2007 by Japan's Prime Minister to address concerns about China's growing power.
• Australia initially refrained from participating fully due to concerns about aligning with Japan against China without a formal resolution regarding historical events. However, Australia later reengaged in 2017 during the ASEAN Summit, indicating renewed interest in the dialogue.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

• In September 2014, a significant Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was established between Australia and India, officially taking effect in November 2015. 
• This agreement facilitated substantial energy trade between the two nations by permitting Australian uranium supply to India for civil purposes. 
• It ensured confidence for Australian uranium mining companies by preventing domestic legal challenges concerning the consistency of IAEA safeguards in both countries and their international non-proliferation commitments. 
• Additionally, the agreement safeguarded potential bilateral trade in other nuclear-related materials for civil use.

Potential for Intensive Bilateral Political and Institutional Engagements:

• There exists a range of emerging global issues that warrant comprehensive engagement at the political and institutional levels between Australia and India. These issues span from reforming international bodies like the World Health Organization to technological advancements in 5G. Strengthening collaborative efforts in areas such as the international solar alliance and enhancing resilience against climate change and disasters also present opportunities for deeper engagement.
• Moreover, there's an imperative need for strategic coordination between the security establishments of both nations in various sub-regions within the vast Indo-Pacific littoral. The primary focus should be on the eastern Indian Ocean, strategically positioned between peninsular India and the west coast of Australia. This region serves as the linchpin of the broader Indo-Pacific concept. Joint initiatives in maritime domain awareness, development of strategically located islands, and collaborative marine scientific research can be initiated between Delhi and Canberra in this region.
• The Eastern Indian Ocean holds immense significance as it connects the Indian and Pacific oceans, with crucial sea lines of communication passing through the Indonesian archipelago. Given the shared commitment to the Indo-Pacific idea among Delhi, Jakarta, and Canberra, coupled with mounting pressures to secure these shared waters, there is a compelling need for India and Australia to seek trilateral maritime and naval cooperation with Indonesia.

Potential Areas of Collaboration

• Water Management: Australia and India share common challenges in water resource management, addressing issues like over-allocation and water quality while meeting the diverse needs of communities and industries. Collaborative efforts between the two nations could yield innovative solutions to this shared problem.
• Energy Sector: Addressing the energy requirements of 240 million people in India lacking electricity access remains a critical focus. Australia, renowned as a global leader in the energy sector contributing substantially to its GDP, stands as a natural partner for India in addressing this challenge.
• Science and Technology Collaboration: India and Australia boast a strong history of collaboration in research and innovation. The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), valued at $84 million, stands as Australia’s largest investment in this partnership.

Way Forward

• Shaping a Stable Asian Strategic Order: With the increasing threat posed by China, India and Australia should explore innovative means of cooperation to influence and establish a stable strategic order in Asia.
• Foundation of Deepening Ties: India-Australia relations thrive on shared values, interests, geography, and objectives, fostering a momentum in their cooperation and coordination in recent times.
• Balancing Development Levels: While both nations have distinct developmental stages, there exist converging and diverging interests between them. Managing these disparities is key to effective collaboration.
• Establishing Security Platforms: To counter the growing geopolitical imbalance in the Indo-Pacific, Delhi and Canberra must create a series of bilateral and minilateral regional security platforms for enhanced cooperation.
• Need for Dedicated Leadership: Sustaining progress demands dedicated attention and political leadership from both capitals, transcending the status of an ongoing work in progress.