New Delhi:The United States on Thursday expressed hope that the maiden Indo-US 2+2 dialogue on September 6 will have “productive discussions” to further strengthen security, and defence cooperation.

“Countdown to the inaugural 2 Plus 2 Dialogue. The US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue will be held in New Delhi on Thursday, September 6. We look forward to productive discussions on ways to strengthen US-India strategic, security, and defense cooperation,” said a tweet from the US Embassy in India. 

There is much enthusiasm about the inaugural Indo-US 2+2 dialogue when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will host their counterparts US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary James Matis respectively.

Both Mr Pompeo and Mr Matis will also call on Prime Minister Modi.

The 2+2 Dialogue between India and the US was postponed twice earlier essentially on time factor.

This meeting between Indian top leaders and the US for 2+2 Dialogues will be the first meeting between Indian side and the US Secretary of State and former CIA Chief Michael Pompeo who replaced Rex Tillerson.

The geo-strategic situation in the Af-Pak region and on the global context will figure prominently along with Indian concerns on developing and operating the strategic Chabahar port and its significance for Afghanistan.

The Iran issue is likely to figure for more reasons than one.

The US has recently said that wants to reduce every country’s import of Iranian oil – that includes India too – to zero by November 4.