[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The United States and India are expected to agree on measures to strengthen military cooperation, including the sharing of satellite intelligence, at the upcoming diplomatic and defense ministers' meeting (2+2 meeting) next week. This comes as the two countries plan to conduct a four-nation joint military exercise with Japan and Australia to counter China, indicating that military cooperation between the two countries will continue to expand.
According to Indian media outlet The Hindu on the 23rd, the United States and India will hold the 2+2 meeting on the 27th of this month in New Delhi, India. Ahead of this meeting, both sides have reportedly finalized the regional data exchange and cooperation framework. Once this agreement is reached, India will gain access to the United States' advanced satellite intelligence related to land, sea, and air domains.
India has so far restrained its military cooperation with the United States, mindful of the possibility of provoking China. However, due to recent serious conflicts with China over border issues, India has decided to pursue this cooperation. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper are scheduled to arrive in India on the 26th of this month for the meeting and plan to hold separate talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, India announced that it will invite the Australian Navy to this year's 'Malabar,' the annual joint naval exercise between the United States, India, and Japan, held next month in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. These countries are members of the 'Quad,' a four-nation consultative group through which the United States seeks to strengthen cooperation to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region.
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