Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Bolstering Our Cooperation

India and Australia have continued to strengthen their bilateral ties across various fronts, forging deeper economic ties through trade agreements and investments. As partners in the Quad and Comprehensive Strategic Partners, India and Australia share a positive agenda of cooperation to reinforce an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. In the last five years, Australia has forged with India a trade agreement, annual summits between leaders, and joint meetings of our foreign and defence ministers. The Australian Government has made real investments to advance strategic and economic cooperation with India, including the opening of a new Centre for Australia-India Relations in Australia, unique among India’s partners. With this focal backdrop the Ananta Centre hosted a conversation between the Australia’s High Commissioner Philip Green OAM and Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Dean and Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The primary reason behind a strong India-Australia partnership are the substantial security challenges. With ongoing wars in Europe and West Asia, maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific is of utmost importance, highlighted in this conversation. The conversation has also mentioned that the major threat to regional stability is China, whose unprecedented military development and aggressive territorial and maritime claims are concerning for both Australia and India. Australia advocates for a region governed by law and order, free from coercion, and with equal status for all sovereign nations. Considering this Chinese aggression, Australia and India has taken significant steps to diplomatically engage with various states and maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific by focusing on increased diplomatic engagement, emphasize more on regional institutions, strengthening its military on the ground and making strong partnership with the U.S.A. particularly in security.

This conversation has also highlighted that India remains an indispensable partner in the Indo-Pacific. India is Australia’s top tier security partner. India and Australia can collaborate on solar power. Also, as Australia, the worlds leading lithium producer, can contribute to India’s electronic vehicles projects. India and Australia need to escalate on the FTA deal. India is aiming to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics. Australias experience and support, having secured the 2032 Olympics, could significantly help Indias bid.