India, Australia hold inaugural Defence Ministers’ Dialogue

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles held the inaugural Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in Canberra on October 9. 

• Singh also met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, broadly focusing on imparting more dynamism to the relations.

• Over the years, defence has emerged as an important pillar of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Highlights of the Dialogue:

• The Dialogue reflected unprecedented progress in the bilateral defence partnership and ministers’ ambition to enhance cooperation, following the four bilateral meetings between the ministers since the elevation of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.  

• The ministers discussed a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to advance maritime cooperation.

• They committed to expand the bilateral defence architecture and enhance consultation and cooperation by conducting an annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. 

• They welcomed the signing of the Australia-India Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation.

• The ministers welcomed the establishment of Joint Staff Talks as a forum to progress joint exercises, operations and interoperability across all domains. 

• Marles accepted Rajnath Singh's invitation to visit India for the Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in 2026.