By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi/Melbourne, July 9. India and Australia on July 9 unveiled an ambitious roadmap to significantly deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), announcing a series of landmark initiatives spanning defence, maritime security, critical technologies, energy, trade, education and regional security, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese concluded the third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne.
The summit reflected the remarkable transformation of bilateral ties over the past decade, with the two Indo-Pacific democracies positioning their partnership as one of the pillars of regional stability amid intensifying geopolitical competition, technological disruption and growing challenges to the rules-based international order.
From Commonwealth partners to Comprehensive Strategic Partners
India and Australia have historically shared close ties as Commonwealth democracies, but their relationship gathered strategic momentum only over the last decade. The elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, the signing of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022, growing defence interoperability, expanding cooperation within the Quad, and convergence on maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific have fundamentally reshaped bilateral engagement.
The latest summit demonstrated that the relationship has matured beyond traditional diplomatic and economic cooperation into a multidimensional strategic partnership encompassing defence, emerging technologies, supply chains, energy security, education and global governance.
In their joint statement, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation to address emerging regional and global challenges while promoting peace, prosperity and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Defence cooperation enters a new phase
The centrepiece of the summit was the announcement of a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, signalling what both governments described as a “step change” in bilateral defence ties.
Recognising defence as the cornerstone of the relationship, the two Prime Ministers announced the establishment of an Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue to institutionalise strategic consultations.
The leaders welcomed the growing complexity and frequency of bilateral military exercises under the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and noted that defence cooperation now spans land, sea, air, cyber and emerging domains.
The summit also laid the foundation for deeper collaboration between the two countries’ defence industries through a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the provision of defence articles and services, alongside expanded industry engagement following Australia’s first defence trade mission to India.
Recognising the importance of preparing future military leaders, both countries agreed to strengthen professional military education, joint research and capacity-building initiatives. Australia will also host the fourth General Rawat India-Australia Young Officers’ Exchange Programme, while an Indian military instructor is expected to join the Australian Defence College during 2028-29.
The two governments further agreed to explore a bilateral defence innovation framework linking governments, industry, academia and research institutions to accelerate cooperation in advanced defence technologies.
Maritime cooperation gains greater strategic importance
Reflecting their shared maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific, India and Australia unveiled an India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, aimed at enhancing maritime domain awareness, operational coordination, information sharing and capacity building.
The two countries also concluded a Memorandum of Understanding between Australia’s Maritime Border Command and the Indian Coast Guard to strengthen cooperation in ensuring a secure maritime environment.
The initiatives underscore the growing maritime convergence between New Delhi and Canberra as both seek to uphold freedom of navigation, maritime security and stability across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Economic partnership expands beyond trade
The leaders welcomed the continued expansion of bilateral trade under ECTA and reiterated their determination to conclude a comprehensive Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) that would further liberalise trade and investment.
Recognising the complementarity between India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and Australia’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ strategy, the two sides pledged deeper cooperation in manufacturing, investment, technology and industrial development.
Critical minerals emerged as another major area of cooperation, with both countries agreeing to strengthen partnerships among government agencies, research institutions and industry to secure resilient supply chains and develop value-addition capabilities.
Technology becomes a strategic pillar
Acknowledging that technological leadership has become central to national security and economic competitiveness, the two Prime Ministers announced the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS).
Replacing the 2020 cyber cooperation framework, PACTS significantly broadens bilateral collaboration in cyber security, artificial intelligence, critical technologies, digital resilience, trusted supply chains and defence research.
The leaders also welcomed the signing of the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership, aimed at promoting trusted cooperation in emerging technologies.
These initiatives position technology as one of the defining pillars of the bilateral partnership.
Energy, climate and civil nuclear cooperation
Energy security figured prominently during the summit.
The two Prime Ministers endorsed a Joint Statement on Energy Security, reaffirming cooperation in renewable energy, electrification and sustainable energy systems.
Recognising the urgency of climate action, they reaffirmed support for implementation of the Paris Agreement while acknowledging the particular vulnerabilities of Pacific Island nations and Indian Ocean countries.
The leaders welcomed progress under the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership, including the operationalisation of the Rooftop Solar Academy.
In a major breakthrough for civil nuclear cooperation, Australia reiterated its strong support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The two sides also finalised the Administrative Arrangement under the Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, paving the way for long-term Australian uranium exports to India for peaceful civilian use under safeguards administered by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Expanding cooperation in space
Space cooperation also received renewed momentum.
Australia reaffirmed support for India’s Gaganyaan Human Space Flight Programme, including the commissioning of a temporary space tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The leaders also agreed to further deepen collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Australian Space Agency.
People-to-people ties remain central
The summit highlighted the rapidly growing Indian diaspora, now Australia’s largest overseas-born community, as one of the strongest pillars of bilateral relations.
Australia announced an additional A$10 million for the Centre for Australia-India Relations’ Maitri grants to deepen economic engagement and people-to-people ties.
Education cooperation also expanded with India’s University Grants Commission issuing approvals for new Australian university campuses, including Flinders University in Bengaluru and Victoria University in Gurugram.
Both countries also agreed to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Mining in Bhubaneswar with support from Western Australia.
The leaders further adopted an India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap to expand cooperation ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Shared vision for the Indo-Pacific
The summit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific governed by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The two leaders emphasised freedom of navigation, peaceful resolution of disputes and opposition to unilateral attempts to alter the regional status quo.
They reiterated support for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, ASEAN centrality, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral mechanism.
The leaders also expressed concern over conflicts in West Asia, Ukraine and Myanmar, calling for dialogue, diplomacy and adherence to international law.
United against terrorism
India and Australia unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, including the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and Bondi Beach.
The two countries agreed to enhance intelligence sharing and cooperation against terrorism, radicalisation, terror financing, cyber-enabled extremism and threats posed by emerging technologies.
They also called for stronger international action against terrorists and entities listed under the UN Security Council’s 1267 sanctions regime and their sponsors.
Backing India’s global role
Australia reiterated support for India’s aspiration to become a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council, describing reform of the global body as essential to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
The two countries also reaffirmed mutual support for each other’s candidature for non-permanent seats on the Security Council during upcoming terms.
A partnership with growing global significance
The outcomes of the third Annual Summit underscore how India-Australia ties have evolved into one of the Indo-Pacific’s most consequential strategic partnerships. What began as a relationship rooted in Commonwealth links and shared democratic values has expanded into a broad-based collaboration encompassing defence, maritime security, advanced technologies, resilient supply chains, clean energy, education and multilateral diplomacy.
As geopolitical competition intensifies across the Indo-Pacific, the decisions announced in Melbourne position New Delhi and Canberra to play a more influential role in shaping a stable, rules-based regional order while advancing shared economic and strategic interests.
Modi invites Australian businesses to tap India’s growth story
Prime Minister Modi pitched India as one of the world’s most attractive long-term investment destinations, urging Australian businesses to leverage the complementarities between the two economies and forge deeper partnerships in manufacturing, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced technologies and innovation.
Addressing the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Roadmap Business event alongside Prime Minister Albanese in Melbourne, Modi said India’s rapid economic growth, policy reforms, digital transformation and expanding innovation ecosystem were opening unprecedented opportunities for Australian investors and businesses.
The twin business events brought together leading CEOs and industry leaders from both countries, representatives of major Australian superannuation funds and institutional investors, as well as vice-chancellors of prominent Australian universities.
Highlighting the complementary strengths of the two economies, Modi said India’s vast market and Australia’s technological expertise and resource capabilities offered a “win-win proposition” for both countries. He identified manufacturing, clean energy, mining, critical minerals, infrastructure, urban development, aviation, logistics, artificial intelligence, fintech, food processing and the digital economy as sectors with immense potential for bilateral collaboration.
Inviting Australian companies to expand their footprint in India, the Prime Minister called for long-term investments that could contribute to India’s growth while creating new opportunities for Australian businesses.
Modi also welcomed the growing presence of Australian universities in India, describing higher education as a key pillar of the bilateral partnership. He said greater collaboration in education, research, innovation and skill development would equip talent in both countries for emerging global opportunities and strengthen knowledge-based cooperation.
Addressing the larger Economic Roadmap Business event, attended by more than 200 business leaders, Modi said the India-Australia economic relationship was underpinned by shared democratic values, strong political understanding, vibrant people-to-people ties and a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Expressing satisfaction over the steady growth in bilateral trade and investment since the implementation of the India-Australia ECTA in 2022, he called for the early conclusion of the proposed CECA to unlock the full potential of the economic partnership.
The Prime Minister urged industry leaders to build on the complementary strengths of both countries and jointly develop global solutions in strategically important sectors such as rare earths, lithium, batteries, semiconductors, electronics, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and defence supply chains.
He also stressed the need to broaden economic engagement beyond the national level by fostering stronger partnerships between Indian states and Australian provinces based on their respective competitive advantages.
Describing the discussions at both business forums as productive and forward-looking, Modi expressed confidence that the ideas generated would provide fresh momentum to bilateral trade, investment and innovation, further strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
‘Indian diaspora a living bridge’
Prime Minister on Thursday described the Indian community in Australia as a “living bridge” connecting the two democracies, highlighting its pivotal role in strengthening bilateral ties while calling on the diaspora to contribute to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Addressing a packed gathering of the Indian community at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium during his official visit to Australia, Modi praised the diaspora’s contribution to both their adopted homeland and their country of origin. In a rare display of bipartisan warmth, Australian Prime Minister Albanese also joined the community event, underscoring the growing importance of the Indian diaspora in Australia’s multicultural landscape and in the expanding India-Australia partnership.
Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Modi thanked the Indian community for serving as a vital link between the two nations and acknowledged Albanese’s steadfast commitment to deepening bilateral ties and supporting the welfare of the Indian diaspora.
Reflecting on the evolution of India-Australia relations over the past decade, the Prime Minister said the complementarities between the two economies had transformed the countries into natural partners capable of jointly promoting a secure, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific.
He lauded the Indian-origin community for successfully integrating into Australian society while preserving its rich cultural traditions and sharing India’s diversity and heritage with local communities. Modi noted that the nearly one million people of Indian origin living in Australia had become an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, contributing across business, academia, healthcare, technology and public life.
Highlighting education as one of the strongest foundations of bilateral cooperation, Modi referred to the large number of Indian students pursuing higher studies in Australia and welcomed the growing presence of Australian universities establishing campuses in India.
Turning to India’s development journey, the Prime Minister outlined the country’s rapid economic transformation driven by sustained growth, structural reforms, digitalisation and next-generation infrastructure. He said India was making significant advances in sectors such as communication technologies, semiconductors, smartphone manufacturing and indigenous defence production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Modi asserted that India’s democratic values, combined with its expanding talent pool, technological capabilities and innovation ecosystem, were creating new opportunities for international partnerships. He emphasised that India’s growth story was rooted in inclusive development and collaboration with trusted global partners.
Calling upon members of the diaspora to actively participate in India’s development journey, Modi invited them to contribute their ideas, expertise and experience towards realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047, when India will mark the centenary of its independence.
The event brought together members of the Indian diaspora from diverse walks of life, including students, professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders and representatives of cultural organisations, reflecting the depth of people-to-people ties that continue to underpin the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
