Indo-US two plus two talks set to be held amidst pressure, Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar will go to America for two days

Over the past week, at least four senior officials in the Joe Biden administration have warned India on separate occasions that it will face consequences if it escalates its trade ties with Russia. In such a situation, what would be the agenda of the two plus two talks between the two countries next week, it was not a matter of guessing. On Thursday, it has been told from India and America that the two plus two talks of their foreign and defense ministers will be held on April 11, 2022. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will go to Washington to take part in the talks. The US will be represented by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

As far as US pressure is concerned, India has clearly shown during the last two weeks that it will act according to its interests. On Thursday, when asked about this, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, his reply was very suggestive. Bagchi said that India's economic relationship with Russia has been quite orderly but efforts are being made to stabilize it in the current environment. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will take the final decision about doing business with Russia in ruble-rupee. On the question of America not buying more fuel from Russia, Bagchi quoted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's statement in Parliament on Wednesday that European countries are still buying energy products from Russia. As far as the sanctions imposed on Russia are concerned, the situation in this regard is quite unclear.

Regional and international issues will also be discussed in this meeting.

This will be the fourth two plus two talks between India and the US. Bagchi said the upcoming meeting would provide an opportunity for the two countries to discuss a wide range of issues related to cooperation in foreign policy, defense, and security. India and the US are strategic partners and regional and international issues will also be discussed in this meeting. The US described this year's meeting as important in the sense that this year the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. India and the US are also becoming established as strong and important defense partners and there will be an opportunity for discussion in this context in the upcoming meeting. In the brief statement issued by India, there is no mention of the Indo-Pacific region, but the US statement has said that making the Indo-Pacific region an open and equal opportunity for all, which believes in maintaining territorial integrity and sovereignty and Protect human rights but will also talk.

Questions arising on the possibilities of doing business in local currency between the three countries

It should be noted that since the attack on Ukraine, pressure is being put on India by the US to review its relations with Russia. From US Deputy NSA Dalip Singh, who recently visited India, to the Rashtrapati Bhavan White House spokesperson on Thursday, said that India should not increase its fuel purchases with Russia. The US is also questioning the possibility of doing business between India and Russia in the local currency.

Russia, on the other hand, is ready to sell petroleum products to India at a cheaper rate. India will move ahead after thinking about it. After Russia attacked Ukraine, on several occasions, India has been absent from voting in favor of Russia. But he has also expressed deep outrage over the killing of innocent civilians in Bucha and demanded an inquiry into the incident.

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