During the visit, three agreements are set to boost cooperation in information sharing, maritime activities, and joint operations, building on India-Australia defence ties, including exchanges, exercises, high-level visits, and capacity-building programs
New Delhi
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Australia on October 9-10 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to strengthen defence and bilateral ties, and mark five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). In a post on X, Singh said he looks forward to continuing dialogue, exchanging views on areas of mutual interest, meeting other national leaders, and exploring new avenues for cooperation between the two countries.
The two-day visit is historic, as it marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia under the current government since 2014. A key focus will be bilateral discussions with his Australian counterpart and chairing a business roundtable in Sydney with industry leaders from both sides. This visit will provide an opportunity to identify meaningful initiatives to further strengthen defence and strategic relations.
During the visit, three agreements are expected to be signed to enhance cooperation in information sharing, the maritime domain, and joint activities. Defence engagement between India and Australia has expanded over the years to include military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity-building programs, joint exercises, and maritime cooperation.
India and Australia elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, building on shared values, democratic traditions, economic engagement, and growing high-level interactions. Long-standing people-to-people connections, Indian students in Australian universities, tourism, and sports ties have further strengthened the relationship. Marles last visited India in June, where he met Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties.
