Australia and India have reaffirmed their growing strategic and military partnership during the 10th Australia–India Defence Policy Talks held in New Delhi, with both countries pledging deeper cooperation across defence, maritime security and defence industry collaboration.
The talks, held on 8 May, brought together senior defence officials led by India’s Joint Secretary Shri Amitabh Prasad and Australia’s First Assistant Secretary International Policy Bernard Philip.
According to the Australian Department of Defence, both sides welcomed recent advances in bilateral defence cooperation and highlighted the establishment of the annual Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in 2025 as evidence of “growing trust” between the two countries.
The discussions come amid intensifying geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific and increasing focus on maritime security, regional stability and military interoperability among Quad partners.
Maritime cooperation and military exercises expand
Officials reviewed progress on commitments made during the 2024 Australia–India Annual Leaders’ Summit, including plans to renew and strengthen the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and develop a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.
The two sides also agreed to deepen interoperability across all domains and continue enhancing cooperation with regional partners.
The talks highlighted a growing tempo of joint military activities between the two countries. India participated for the first time in Exercise Talisman Sabre and Exercise Puk Puk in 2025, while both nations continue to deepen maritime cooperation through participation in each other’s International Fleet Reviews and naval exercises including Exercise Milan and Exercise Kakadu.
According to The Times of India, the discussions also covered logistics support, reciprocal access arrangements and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.
The report said both countries reiterated support for “a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific” and explored ways to further operationalise defence cooperation mechanisms established in recent years.
Defence industry ties gain momentum
Defence industry cooperation emerged as another key focus area during the talks.
The Australian Defence statement said both sides acknowledged the “strategic importance” of defence industrial collaboration and engagement.
Officials welcomed several recent initiatives aimed at strengthening defence industry links, including the first Australia–India Defence Industry Roundtable held in Sydney in 2025, Australia’s first defence trade mission to India, and a defence industry strategic roundtable organised during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in 2026.
The two countries are increasingly seeking closer collaboration in defence technology, supply chains and military capability development as part of broader efforts to diversify strategic partnerships in the region.
Strategic partnership continues to evolve
Australia and India have significantly expanded defence and security cooperation over the past decade, driven by shared concerns over regional security, maritime trade routes and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Both countries are members of the Quad grouping alongside the United States and Japan, and have steadily increased the frequency and complexity of joint military exercises and strategic consultations.
The Defence Policy Talks are now one of several institutional mechanisms underpinning the bilateral relationship, which has evolved into a broader partnership spanning defence, trade, technology, education and critical minerals cooperation.
