Strengthening Australia-India Defence Partnership

Summary of Australia-India Defence Partnership Developments

Key Agreements and Initiatives:

1. Inaugural Defence Ministers’ Dialogue:

   • Co-chaired by Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (October 9, 2025).
   • Marks five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

2. Signed Agreements:

   • Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation.
   • Agreement on information sharing.
   • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on submarine search and rescue cooperation.
   • Terms of reference for establishing joint staff talks.

3. Maritime Security Collaboration:

   • Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to enhance maritime domain awareness and operational interoperability.
   • Invitation extended for India to participate in the submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon.

4. Educational Initiatives:

   • Increased exchange of personnel with additional Indian students joining the Australian Defence College in 2026 and slots opening at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027.

Strategic Convergence:

• Both nations emphasized their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• Recognition of the importance of adherence to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Defence Industrial Cooperation:

1. Launch of Australia’s first defence trade mission to India (October 7–10, 2025).
2. Preparation for the Australia–India Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney.
3. Collaboration on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), unmanned systems, and secure communications under the Joint Working Group on Defence Industry, Research and Materiel.
4. Acknowledgement of India's provision of maintenance and repair facilities for the Royal Australian Navy in Indian shipyards.

Multilateral Cooperation:

• Enhanced cooperation through multilateral formats such as:
  • Australia–India–Indonesia Trilateral
  • The Quad

Economic and Strategic Context:

• The dialogue underscores growing strategic convergence between India and Australia as significant Indo-Pacific democracies, focusing on regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
• Recognition of the growing defence engagement and cooperation in various domains including land, air, and maritime.

Future Engagements:

• Acceptance of the invitation for the next Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in India, scheduled for 2026.

This summary highlights the ongoing developments in the Australia-India defence partnership, focusing on strategic agreements, initiatives for cooperation in education and technology, and the commitment to regional stability and security.