India’s defence chief, Rajnath Singh, landed in Canberra on October 9 for the first time in 12 years, turning a long‑standing strategic partnership with Australia into real, on‑the‑ground action.
The trip ran just before and during Exercise AUSTRAHIND, a joint land‑force drill that tested urban and semi‑urban tactics in Perth from October 13 to 26. The timing shows both countries are ready to put plans into practice.
In a two‑day visit, Singh hosted the first Australia‑India Defence‑Ministers’ Dialogue. The meeting ended with a joint statement and the launch of a new Australia‑India Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation. The deal will let the two navies share rescue procedures and equipment, a move that experts say strengthens undersea trust and helps counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.
The visit also opened a Joint Staff Talks forum, giving officers a regular venue to plan joint drills, operations and shared technology across air, sea and cyber domains. In September, the countries had celebrated the fifth anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and this visit has taken that pledge a step further.
Australia and India agreed to collaborate on modern defence technology, setting up joint working groups to explore research, production and sourcing of new systems. A key commercial win is that Australian Navy vessels will be able to receive maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in Indian shipyards while operating in the Indian Ocean—shortening downtime and boosting readiness.
Overall, the trip produced three breakthrough outcomes:
1. It turned high‑level political and strategic alignment into day‑to‑day cooperation through submarine rescue, MRO, staff talks and refuelling arrangements.
2. It accelerated industrial reciprocity, reducing sustainment risk for both sides while spurring innovation.
3. It broadened the partnership’s reach into a wider regional role without pushing either side into binding treaty obligations, staying true to each country’s strategic preferences.
The dialogue marks a new chapter for Indo‑Australian defence ties, signalling that the relationship is no longer just talk—both nations are building deeper operational integration and joint capabilities to safeguard their shared Indo‑Pacific interests.
Source: ianslive
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