Canberra: India and Australia deepened their strategic engagement as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Australian counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Canberra for the first Australia India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. The talks marked a new phase in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed both countries’ shared goal of maintaining peace stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
Maritime Security and Submarine Collaboration
The two ministers discussed a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to strengthen operational coordination in the Indian Ocean. They signed the Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation which allows both countries to assist each other during submarine emergencies.
Progress on the Air to Air Refuelling Agreement signed in 2024 was also reviewed and both sides welcomed deeper information sharing between their armed forces. The leaders appreciated the growing complexity of joint exercises and the increasing interoperability achieved through the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.
Australia welcomed India’s participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 and invited India for the next edition in 2027. India in turn invited Australia to participate in Exercise Tarang Shakti and the submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon.
Defence Industry and Technology Cooperation
The ministers announced a new phase of defence industrial partnership. Australia’s first Defence Trade Mission to India is taking place from October 7 to 10 2025 and the two sides will hold the Australia India Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney on October 10.
Both nations agreed to work together in advanced technologies including artificial intelligence uncrewed aerial systems counter UAS secure communications and integrated air and missile defence. Australia thanked India for offering maintenance repair and overhaul facilities for Royal Australian Navy ships in Indian shipyards during their deployment in the Indian Ocean Region.
Education and Training Partnership
The two sides also expanded cooperation in military education and training. Additional Indian students will study at the Australian Defence College in 2026 and for the first time an Indian cadet will join the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027. These exchanges aim to deepen institutional familiarity and build long term professional bonds between the two defence establishments.
Regional and Multilateral Cooperation
India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to a free open and rules based Indo Pacific region supporting freedom of navigation overflight and lawful trade in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministers welcomed joint maritime patrols and anti submarine warfare activities conducted by both nations’ aircraft in the Indian Ocean. They agreed to continue aircraft deployments from each other’s territories to enhance operational familiarity and highlighted cooperation under the Australia India Indonesia trilateral framework.
The two sides also acknowledged ongoing progress in cooperation among India Australia Japan and the United States under the Quad framework. They reaffirmed their commitment to maritime domain awareness and looked forward to a second collaborative activity during Exercise Malabar in November 2025.
Towards a Secure Indo Pacific Future
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles reaffirmed their countries’ long term vision for collective strength and regional stability. They welcomed the participation of Indian Naval Ship Kadmatt in Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations and its port call in Fiji in September 2025.
Rajnath Singh invited Marles to visit India for the next Annual Defence Ministers Dialogue in 2026 highlighting the expanding scope of cooperation that now covers land sea air and emerging technologies.
