Wilmington
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the 6th Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, USA, marking their ninth in-person meeting since May 2022. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation across several sectors, including trade, security, defence, education, climate change, and people-to-people ties.
The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, emphasizing the growing momentum in India-Australia relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.
After the meeting, PM Modi shared on X, “Had extensive discussions with PM Albanese to further boost cooperation in areas like trade, security, space, and culture.” Albanese tweeted about the productive conversation, adding his anticipation for the Quad Summit in India next year.
During the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the leaders discussed the positive impact of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and the steps towards concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). They also explored cooperation in defence, security, space, and critical minerals.
Other Quad leaders praised PM Modi’s leadership, especially in the Indian Ocean. Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden both acknowledged India’s significant role under Modi’s leadership, with Biden noting that the US can learn from India’s experience in the region.
