Australian Deputy PM Meet With Rajnath Singh

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles in New Delhi on June 04, 2025. 

Australian Deputy PM Meet With Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles in New Delhi on June 04, 2025. Both Ministers strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed deepest condolences to the families of the victims.  Raksha Mantri highlighted India’s right to respond in self-defence against cross-border terrorism and described New Delhi’s actions against Pakistan as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. The two sides agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms.

The two Ministers welcomed the signing of Australia-India Joint Research Project and agreed to intensify & diversify defence industry collaboration. They deliberated to further the defence science and technology collaboration projects when they meet in Australia later this year for the third India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting.

They also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in November 2023.  The discussions covered a wide range of issues such as defence strategic cooperation and security, including industry collaboration, cyber & new emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, hydrography and maritime security.

India-Australia Relations

Political and Diplomatic Engagement: It has progressed from a Strategic Partnership (2009) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020). Key milestones include:

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD): Both countries, along with the US and Japan, collaborate in QUAD to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: A high-level engagement between the foreign and defense ministers of both nations to strengthen security cooperation.

India is Australia’s 5th largest trading partner. It is expected to boost bilateral trade from the current $31 billion to $50 billion by 2030.

Major exports from Australia to India: Coal, education services, natural gas, and agricultural products.

Major exports from India to Australia: Pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, and IT services.

Defense and Security Cooperation

Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA): It allows both nations to access each other’s military bases for logistics and maintenance.

Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation: Strengthening collaboration on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital governance.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD): Both nations with the US and Japan, for countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Defense Exercises like Malabar, AUSINDEX, and AUSTRAHIND: For strengthening military interoperability and defense ties.