Australia and India have reaffirmed their growing strategic and defence partnership during the 10th Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi, with both countries pledging deeper military cooperation, expanded maritime collaboration and stronger defence industry engagement.
The talks, held on 8 May, were led by Indian Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Australia’s First Assistant Secretary for International Policy Bernard Philip.
The meeting reviewed progress under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as both nations continue to strengthen defence and security coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.
Officials from both sides welcomed the expansion of bilateral defence cooperation, including the establishment of the annual India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in 2025, which they said reflected increasing trust and strategic alignment between Canberra and New Delhi.
The discussions also focused on enhancing interoperability across military domains, increasing the scale and complexity of joint exercises, and advancing maritime security cooperation amid growing regional strategic competition.
Both countries reviewed progress on commitments made during the 2024 India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit, including efforts to renew the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and develop a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.
The two sides also confirmed plans to hold the first India-Australia Joint Staff Talks later this year, marking another step in expanding institutional defence engagement.
Training exchanges featured prominently in the discussions, including the Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme and military academy visits between the Indian Military Academy and Royal Military College, Duntroon.
Officials said such exchanges were helping build mutual trust, people-to-people links and shared strategic understanding.
Defence industry collaboration was also identified as a growing area of cooperation. Both countries welcomed recent initiatives including the first India-Australia Defence Industry Roundtable held in Sydney in 2025, Australia’s first defence trade mission to India, and a strategic defence industry roundtable at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi earlier this year.
The talks come as India and Australia continue to expand cooperation across defence, trade and regional security under their broader strategic partnership framework.
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