Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Pushes Defense Collaboration

Australia acknowledges India's emerging capabilities in high-end defense production as it embarks on a new chapter of partnership between the two countries.

While it has been reliant on Western systems in the past, Australia now believes it can count on India as a trusted, emerging defense partner, laying the foundation for joint production and technology transfers in the years ahead.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Australia on October 9-10, and will meet Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles in Sydney. The two day visit, which is focused on defense and security cooperation, will see Mr. Singh attend live air-to-air refuelling demonstration in a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Tanker.

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Officials indicate the talks will cover issues of regional and bilateral significance, including progress on a Maritime Security Road Map that aims to increase collaboration on maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean. Both countries are also developing a new Joint Declaration on Defense and Security Cooperation to act as a guide for future engagement.

Commemorating five years of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two countries have dramatically expanded defense engagements from 11 in 2014 to 33 in 2024. The first Defense Trade Mission from Australia to India is now in Chennai and New Delhi, focusing on C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber-Defense, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) partnerships.

Describing India as an "indispensable security partner", Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner stated that the growing defense cooperation between India and Australia bolsters Indo-Pacific stability while providing strategic autonomy to the region.