Explanation:

• The two-plus-two dialogue comprising India’s defence and foreign secretaries and their Japanese counterparts takes place annually before the interaction of the two prime ministers.
• The two-plus-two dialogue mechanism is between countries which have institutionalised annual dialogue or at least a regular dialogue between the political heads of the two states. For instance, the US has institutionalised a regular bilateral dialogue with Japan and Australia. Both Japan and Australia also have similar summit level interaction between them on a regular basis.
• The two-plus-two dialogue comprising ministries of defence and foreign affairs discusses issues of bilateral cooperation threadbare and identifies new areas of cooperation, which are generally finalised later at the summit level interactions between the political leadership of the two states.
• It is a form of Track 1 diplomacy. These are official discussions typically involving high-level political and military leaders and focusing on cease-fires, peace talks, and treaties and other agreements.
• Additional Information: India and USA recently decided to establish a new dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. It is likely to be called “2 by 2”, which is similar to the India-Japan 2+2 dialogue.