India, Australia Adopt New Roadmap to Deepen Strategic Ties
Annual Summit Focuses on Defence, Trade, Technology and Indo-Pacific Cooperation
GG News Bureau
Melbourne, 9th July: India and Australia on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing a series of initiatives to strengthen cooperation in defence, trade, technology, energy, education and regional security during the Third India-Australia Annual Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a joint statement highlighting the growing strategic convergence between the two countries and their shared vision for a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The two leaders announced a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and agreed to establish an Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. They also unveiled the India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap and welcomed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Maritime Border Command and the Indian Coast Guard to enhance maritime cooperation.
On the economic front, both sides welcomed the growth in bilateral trade under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). The leaders also called for stronger business-to-business engagement and greater investment cooperation, particularly in manufacturing, critical minerals and resilient supply chains.
The summit also focused on expanding cooperation in clean energy, climate action, cyber security, critical technologies, artificial intelligence, space and nuclear energy. Australia reiterated its support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and both countries agreed to strengthen collaboration on peaceful nuclear energy and space exploration.
The leaders welcomed growing education ties, including new Australian university campuses in India, and announced initiatives to boost skill development, sports cooperation and cultural exchanges. They also reaffirmed support for stronger parliamentary engagement and people-to-people connections.
On regional and global issues, India and Australia reiterated their commitment to ASEAN centrality, the Quad, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. They condemned terrorism in all its forms, called for stronger cooperation against violent extremism and reaffirmed support for reforms of the United Nations Security Council, with Australia backing India’s bid for permanent membership.
The two Prime Ministers expressed confidence that the expanded partnership would further strengthen regional peace, security and prosperity while advancing the shared vision of an open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
