On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles. They talked about various issues related to defence cooperation and discussed how the two countries could work more closely together in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance India places on its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia. He shared his thoughts on social media, saying, “Spoke with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr. @RichardMarlesMP. We reviewed a range of issues about defence cooperation and discussed closer collaboration between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific. We place great value on the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
Spoke with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr. @RichardMarlesMP. We reviewed a range of issues pertaining to defence cooperation and discussed closer collaboration between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific. We place great value on India-Australia…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 4, 2024
The two ministers praised the significant progress in their defence cooperation under this partnership. They noted the positive developments since their last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November 2023. The Ministry of Defence released a statement saying that Australia considers India a top-tier security partner in their National Defence Strategy document, which was released in 2024.
Richard Marles congratulated Rajnath Singh on being re-elected as India’s Defence Minister for a second term. He also appreciated the democratic process in India, where many people participated in the elections. In addition, he congratulated India on winning the T20 World Cup.
In recent years, the relationship between India and Australia has seen significant growth. According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, their cooperation has expanded across many areas, creating new opportunities both bilaterally and globally.
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Earlier in June, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong for working with India to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the landslide-affected Enga Province in Papua New Guinea. Jaishankar mentioned on social media that the India-Australia friendship is helping deliver aid in the Indo-Pacific region.
Penny Wong added that Australia is coordinating with partners to ensure the delivery of much-needed assistance to Papua New Guinea. She also mentioned that they visited the disaster area and transported Indian supplies to the affected region.
The strengthened ties between India and Australia show their commitment to working together for regional stability and mutual benefit. The ongoing defence cooperation and humanitarian efforts highlight the growing importance of their partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
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