Australia and India Deepen Strategic Defence Alliance in Indo-Pacific
India and Australia have taken significant strides in bolstering their defence partnership, marked by key agreements and collaborations aimed at enhancing regional security and cooperation. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, underscored the deepening strategic alignment between the two nations.
The dialogue reflected progress in the bilateral defence partnership, building on four meetings between the Ministers since the elevation of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. Both leaders advanced their Prime Ministers’ long-term vision for collaboration to enhance collective strength, contribute to security, and make an important contribution to regional peace and security.
India and Australia discussed a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to advance maritime cooperation and looked forward to Prime Ministers renewing and strengthening the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation. Ministers committed to expand the bilateral defence architecture and enhance consultation and cooperation by conducting an annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue.
The Australia-India Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation was signed, reflecting growing operational ties. Progress was noted towards operationalising the Australia-India Implementing Arrangement on Air-to-Air Refuelling signed in 2024. Ministers welcomed closer cooperation on information sharing and highlighted the defence partnership now extends across all domains.
Joint Staff Talks were established as a forum to progress joint exercises, operations, and interoperability across all domains. Australia welcomed India’s participation in Australia’s Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2025 and looked forward to India’s participation in 2027. Ministers appreciated the growing frequency and complexity of defence exercises and exchanges, noting increasing interoperability through implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.
The Royal Australian Air Force participated in the Indian Air Force’s Exercise Tarang Shakti in 2024, and the Royal Australian Navy and Indian Navy engaged in navy-to-navy interactions in 2026. India welcomed Australia’s invitation for participation in submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon. Ministers welcomed additional Indian students at the Australian Defence College in 2026 and a position at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027 for the first time.
The strategic importance of defence industrial collaboration and engagement was underscored. Australia’s first defence trade mission to India from 7 to 10 October 2025 and the inaugural India Pavilion at Australia’s Land Forces Expo 2024 reflected growth in the bilateral defence industry relationship. Both sides agreed to pursue defence collaboration in contemporary technology, including through the Joint Working Group on Defence Industry, Research and Materiel.
Australia thanked India for the offer of maintenance, repair, and overhaul of Royal Australian Navy ships in Indian shipyards during their deployment to the Indian Ocean Region. Ministers affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation with regional partners to help maintain a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They underscored strong support for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded trade in the region, and other lawful uses of the sea consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Collaborative maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine warfare activities by Australian and Indian maritime patrol aircraft in the Indian Ocean were noted. Both sides agreed to continue aircraft deployment from each other’s territories to build operational familiarity. Ongoing cooperation under the Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral format and among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States was welcomed, underscoring growing strategic convergence.
Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles described the defence pact as a “hugely significant step” in strengthening operational partnership between the two nations’ armed forces. The dialogue reflects growing strategic convergence and commitment to regional peace and security, building on India-Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020.
