SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Defence
During his visit to Australia, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister Richard Marles elevated defence ties through the first Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. They signed a set of key agreements — including an Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support, a pact on information sharing, and terms of reference for Joint Staff Talks. The talks also covered operational issues like air-to-air refuelling, joint exercises, and deeper maritime security cooperation. The ministers reiterated their strategic goal of expanding cooperation across all defence domains and affirmed annual dialogues going forward.
This set of agreements marks a shift from strategic alignment to operational-level integration. India and Australia are now formalising mechanisms for joint planning, interoperability, and resource sharing in maritime, air, and submarine domains. This strengthens India’s ability to project influence in the Indo-Pacific, deters security risks, and enhances capacity to respond together to maritime threats. At the same time, the cooperation in defence industry, technology sharing, and logistics (e.g. maintenance of Australian naval vessels in Indian shipyards) deepen trust and institutional ties.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders
How should India align its defence exports, technology transfer, and training frameworks with Australia to sustain long-term strategic and industrial collaboration without compromising sovereignty?
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India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Joint Statement
Raksha Mantri’s Bilateral Meeting in Canberra