•India aur Australia ne New Delhi mein doosra Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired kiya, October 2023 se hue progress ko review kiya.
•Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap final hua, jismein patrol aircraft, undersea surveillance, aur Coast Guard ke beech ties par focus hai.
•India Exercise Kakadu (2026) aur Talisman Sabre (2027) mein participate karega; Australia Exercise Milan aur Pitch Black mein join karega.
•India ko 2025 mein defence trade mission aur Defence Industry Roundtable ke zariye defence industrial collaboration ko boost karne ka plan.
•Sensor technologies mein joint research aur India ka 2026 ke Australian Defence Science Summit mein participate karne par agreement.
•Ministers ne freedom of navigation, Quad maritime initiatives, aur common operational picture build karne ki support dobara se affirm ki.
•Training cooperation mein Indian instructor ka Australian Defence College mein deployment bhi include hai.
New Delhi: India aur Australia ne apne Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ko aur mazboot karne ke liye Wednesday ko New Delhi mein doosra India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue kiya. Is meeting mein India ke defence minister aur Australia ke deputy prime minister aur defence minister Richard Marles ne sah-chairing ki. Dialogue mein October 2023 mein Australia mein hui pehli meeting ke baad hue progress ko review kiya aur multiple domains mein defence aur security cooperation ko aur deep karne ki importance par zor diya.
Discussions ka ek important outcome tha Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap ka finalisation. Is initiative ka aim hai maritime domain awareness ko badhana through increased use of patrol aircraft aur improved undersea surveillance capabilities. Dono countries ne Indian Coast Guard aur Australia ke Maritime Border Command ke beech cooperation ko strengthen karne par bhi agreement kiya, jo Indian Ocean Region (IOR) ke vital sea lanes ko secure karne ke liye unki shared commitment ko reflect karta hai. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) ke Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security ke co-leads ke taur par India aur Australia June 2026 mein Chennai ke Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre mein ek bade search-and-rescue aur tabletop exercise ko jointly host karenge.
Military engagement mein significant expansion hone wala hai, kyunki kayi high-profile joint exercises aane wale hain. India 2026 mein Australia ke Exercise Kakadu aur 2027 mein Exercise Talisman Sabre mein participate karega, jabki Australia India ke multilateral naval exercise Milan mein join karega. Iske alawa, bilateral air-to-air refuelling arrangement ke operational hone ki ummeed hai during Exercise Pitch Black. Ground forces bhi ties ko aur deep karenge through expanded amphibious exercises jaise Austrahind, India ka participation in Operation Render Safe, aur Australia ka involvement in submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon. Yeh activities Indo-Pacific mein dono armed forces ki operational readiness aur interoperability ko reinforce karenge.
Defence industrial collaboration bhi dialogue ka ek important hissa ban gaya. Australia ki pehli-ever defence trade mission to India, jo 2025 mein scheduled hai, ko ek landmark step banaya gaya hai defence industry partnerships ko boost karne ke liye. Ek Defence Industry Roundtable bhi 2025 mein hoga, jo dono countries ke defence industries ke beech direct engagement ko facilitate karega. Aage badhte hue, sensor technologies mein joint research par agreement hua, aur India ko 2026 ke Australian Defence Science Summit mein participate karne ka plan bhi hai. Yeh efforts critical defence domains mein innovation aur technological exchange ko foster karne ke liye hain.
Ministers ne international law ke accordance mein freedom of navigation aur overflight par apni commitment ko dobara se affirm kiya aur Indo-Pacific mein Quad maritime surveillance initiatives ki importance par zor diya. Unhone shared security challenges ko address karne ke liye Indo-Pacific mein ek common operational picture build karne ki importance par bhi highlight kiya. Enhanced information sharing, upcoming Joint Staff Talks, aur secure communications channels ke establishment ko coordination aur trust ko improve karne ke steps ke taur par welcome kiya gaya.
Training cooperation mein bhi ek Indian instructor ko Australian Defence College mein deploy karke educational aur professional exchanges ko aur strong banaya jayega. Yeh initiatives dono nations ke beech defence diplomacy aur capacity building ko institutionalise karne ki broader trend ko reflect karti hain.
Dialogue ne Indo-Pacific mein peace, stability, aur prosperity maintain karne mein India-Australia partnership ki strategic importance ko dobara se affirm kiya. Maritime security, joint military exercises, defence industry engagement, aur technological collaboration mein concrete steps ke saath, dono countries ek aur integrated aur resilient regional security architecture ke liye foundation rakh rahe hain.
