India and Australia are set to take their defence and security partnership to the next level, with three key agreements expected to be signed during India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official two-day visit to Australia beginning Thursday.
Singh’s visit, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, comes as both nations celebrate five years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
This marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia since 2014.
Marles last visited India in June 2025, when he met Singh and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the momentum in defence cooperation between the two Indo-Pacific partners.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the agreements will boost cooperation in information sharing, the maritime domain, and joint defence activities, reflecting the growing convergence between New Delhi and Canberra on regional security priorities.
During his visit, Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Marles and chair a business roundtable in Sydney attended by leading defence industry figures from both nations. He is also expected to meet other senior Australian leaders to explore new initiatives aimed at enhancing the bilateral relationship.
Defence ties between India and Australia have steadily expanded over the years, encompassing joint military exercises, ship visits, training programmes, and high-level exchanges.
The partnership, elevated from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, is underpinned by shared democratic values, Commonwealth heritage, and strong people-to-people links. The growing presence of Indian students in Australian universities, tourism, and sporting ties continue to enrich this dynamic relationship.
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