India, Australia Gear Up for Deeper Maritime, Defence Collaboration
(File Photo)
New Delhi:Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is embarking on a significant two-day official visit to Australia on October 9-10, 2025, at the invitation of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles. This landmark visit coincides with a pivotal moment – India and Australia are celebrating five years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), established in 2020.
The visit marks the first trip of an Indian Defence Minister to Australia since 2014, underscoring the growing importance of bilateral ties. Rajnath Singh will engage in crucial discussions with Richard Marles, focusing on deepening defence cooperation. He will chair a business roundtable in Sydney, bringing together industry leaders from India and Australia. The Raksha Mantri will also meet other key national leaders, reinforcing high-level engagement.
Three agreements are slated to be signed during the visit, aimed at bolstering cooperation in information sharing, maritime domain, and joint activities. Defence engagements have expanded over time to include wide-ranging interactions between the services, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity-building and training programmes, cooperation in the maritime domain, ship visits, and bilateral exercises.
India and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. The two nations share a deep bond rooted in common values – pluralistic, Westminster-style democracies, Commonwealth traditions, growing economic engagement, and increasing high-level interactions. Long-standing people-to-people connections, the presence of Indian students in Australian universities as well as robust tourism and sporting ties, have further strengthened the enduring partnership between the two countries.
Richard Marles visited India in June 2025, meeting Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting ongoing high-level dialogue.
This visit presents a vital opportunity for India and Australia to forge new initiatives, reinforcing their defence partnership and bilateral relationship amidst growing Indo-Pacific significance.
