India and the Netherlands today agreed to strengthen further the partnership between the two countries by expanding ongoing defence, security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Intensive discussions covering a wide range of bilateral issues as well as major regional and global developments took place when National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Geoffrey Van Leeuwen, Security and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in New Delhi on Thursday.
The NSA and his Dutch counterpart discussed recent geopolitical developments in their respective regions. Both of them underlined the importance for India and the Netherlands to remain engaged on these issues and intensify their contacts, including through policy dialogues on issues of mutual interest.
The meeting between two top officials happened just a few days before President Ram Nath Kovind's visit to the Netherlands – the first by an Indian President in 34 years.
President Kovind will be in the Netherlands from April 4-7 at the invitation of King William Alexander and Queen Maxima. This will be the first high level visit from India after the royal couple visited India in October 2019.
2022 also marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two sides.
After meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in his office last week, NSA Doval had held discussions with Jens Plotner, Security and Foreign Policy Adivser to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday.
US Deputy NSA for International Economics Daleep Singh is also in India currently.
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