India, Australia Sign New Joint Declaration to Deepen Defence and Security Partnership in Indo-Pacific.
New Delhi:
India and Australia have adopted a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to significantly strengthen bilateral defence ties and advance a shared vision of a free, open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The declaration was jointly issued by the Prime Ministers of India and Australia during high-level bilateral engagements. It builds upon the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established in 2020 and marks a major step forward from the India-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed in 2009.
Commitment to a Stronger Strategic Partnership
The two countries reaffirmed that their strategic convergence has grown substantially in recent years through stronger defence cooperation, expanding economic ties and deeper people-to-people connections. They also highlighted the importance of bilateral and multilateral engagements, including cooperation through the Quad and other regional institutions, in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Recognising growing geopolitical uncertainty and evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, both nations stressed the need for peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and opposed the use or threat of force and coercion.
Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific
India and Australia reiterated their commitment to an Indo-Pacific region founded on:
A rules-based international order grounded in international law.
Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Open, transparent and inclusive regional institutions.
The two countries also reaffirmed support for regional organisations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN and ASEAN-led regional architecture, and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Enhanced Defence Cooperation
The declaration outlines an ambitious agenda to deepen defence and security collaboration. India and Australia agreed to:
Hold regular consultations on defence-related developments affecting shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Increase the scale and complexity of bilateral and multilateral military exercises.
Accelerate interoperability and information sharing between their armed forces.
Expand aircraft deployments from each other’s territories.
Strengthen personnel exchanges, defence education, training programmes and liaison appointments.
Explore cooperation in recruiting skilled defence workforces.
Maritime Security Roadmap
Recognising the strategic importance of the maritime domain, both countries committed to expanding maritime security cooperation through a dedicated India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. The roadmap aims to enhance the depth, sophistication and frequency of maritime cooperation.
Defence Industry and Technology Collaboration
India and Australia agreed to promote closer integration between their defence industries by:
Encouraging industry partnerships.
Strengthening resilient defence supply chains.
Expanding collaboration in defence innovation.
Advancing cooperation in defence science and emerging technologies.
Women, Peace and Security
The declaration reaffirmed support for increasing the meaningful participation and leadership of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, humanitarian relief and peacekeeping operations. Both countries pledged to advance the global Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Economic Resilience and Critical Supply Chains
Recognising the strategic importance of resilient supply chains, both nations committed to strengthening cooperation in:
Critical minerals.
Clean energy technologies.
Critical infrastructure.
Regional connectivity.
Supply chain resilience.
Cyber Security and Emerging Technologies
India and Australia agreed to deepen collaboration under the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (Australia-India PACTS). The partnership will focus on enhancing cyber security cooperation, information sharing and strategic technology development to build a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation
The declaration places significant emphasis on counter-terrorism cooperation. Both countries committed to increasing intelligence and information sharing regarding terrorist entities and individuals and expanding collaboration in areas including:
Emerging technologies.
Terrorism financing.
Protection of critical infrastructure and crowded places.
Maritime security.
Prevention of online radicalisation and violent extremism.
Cooperation on Migration and Transnational Crime
India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement, signed in 2023, to address irregular migration, people smuggling and human trafficking. They also pledged to strengthen cooperation against transnational organised crime.
Nuclear Disarmament
Both countries reiterated their support for global nuclear non-proliferation and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving complete, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.
Expanding Regional Partnerships
India and Australia agreed to deepen cooperation with regional partners, including through trilateral mechanisms and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. They also committed to expanding collaboration with the United States and Japan to strengthen regional capability and cooperation in support of a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific.
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
The declaration also outlines enhanced cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The two countries will:
Increase information sharing and expert exchanges.
Conduct joint HADR exercises, including through the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network.
Explore contingency planning, coordinated disaster response and evacuation operations in third countries during humanitarian crises.
Looking Ahead
Concluding the declaration, India and Australia reaffirmed their resolve to fully implement the ambitious agenda under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries expressed confidence that the strengthened defence and security cooperation will contribute significantly to regional peace, stability, resilience and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
