Mon Mar 17 16:24:49 UTC 2025: ## India and Australia Strengthen Defence Ties, Agree to Deeper Cooperation
**New Delhi, March 17, 2025** – India and Australia have agreed to significantly deepen their defence cooperation, encompassing land, sea, and air domains. This commitment was made during the 9th India-Australia defence policy talks held in New Delhi today.
The talks, led by India’s Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Australia’s First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip, focused on enhancing maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and collaborative efforts in industry and science and technology. The two nations also discussed expanding exchanges, including deployments from each other’s territories.
A Defence Ministry statement highlighted “sustained progress” in bilateral defence cooperation, citing increased frequency and complexity of joint exercises and the finalization of key agreements. The discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest and reviewed outcomes from previous high-level meetings, including the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and the Annual Leaders’ Summit.
Both countries expressed their intent to accelerate cooperation in defence science and technology, exploring possibilities for defence industry collaboration. Preparations for the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, to be held in Australia later this year, were also finalized.
The strengthening of the India-Australia defence relationship reflects the broader transformation in bilateral ties over the past decade, solidifying defence as a key pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership. The Australian delegation will visit the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. in Mumbai as part of their visit.
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