US stresses commitment to Indo-Pacific in 2+2 agenda, no mention of Ukraine

New York: India continues to holds on to its neutral policy over Ukraine crisis despite mounting pressure from US and EU block.

Past weeks were hectic for Delhi with many special envoys of US, UK, Germany and Russia separately meeting their Indian counterparts.

And it oftentimes seemed the more pressure came the more India dug its heels in.

Ahead of the next week's 2+2 ministerial meeting between Indian and American defence and diplomacy leaders, US has stressed two countries' commitment to free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the agenda, IANS reported.

To meet the challenges of 21 century, the US and India would continue to chart an ambitious course in the bilateral defence partnership, the Pentagon said.

The statement from USA chose not to mention Ukraine situation and India's neutrality, which was apparently frustrating Washington.

India's Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA) wouldn't mention the subject either.

The 2+2 Dialogue, according to MEA, would give an opportunity to exchange views on important regional and global developments. The statement also pointed about how both of them can together address issues of common interest and concern.

The fourth edition of 2+2 meeting, scheduled to have been held last December, was postponed because of the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi. Both India and USA started the meetings back in 2018 alternating between two capitals.

This year's meeting, according to US State Department, would celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between both countries.

Despite asking for inquiry into allegations of atrocities by Russian troops in Ukraine, India on Thursday remained neutral on a General Assembly resolution to suspend Moscow from Human Rights Council.