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India and Australia have taken significant new steps to strengthen their defence partnership, agreeing to institutionalise an annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, sign an Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation, and operationalisation of the Air-to-Air Refuelling Agreement signed in 2024. Both sides also committed to expand information sharing, interoperability, and strategic coordination across all domains.
These announcements followed the first official Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, held in Canberra between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. The talks underscored the growing maturity and operational depth of the partnership since the elevation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.
Structured Dialogue and New Cooperation Mechanisms
The ministers confirmed that the annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue will provide a regular, high-level mechanism for advancing shared priorities. The new Mutual Submarine Rescue Arrangement will strengthen underwater safety protocols and enhance coordination between the two navies.
Progress in operationalising the Air-to-Air Refuelling Arrangement was also welcomed — a key step toward enabling long-range missions and improving air force interoperability. To further align defence planning, the two countries will launch Joint Staff Talks, covering coordination across the air, land, maritime, cyber, and space domains.
Expanding Exercises and Interoperability
India and Australia reaffirmed the importance of joint training and exercises as the foundation of interoperability.
Australia welcomed India’s participation in the Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2025 and looked forward to India’s participation in the exercise in 2027. Ministers expressed appreciation for the increasing frequency and complexity of defence exercises and exchanges, as well as the growing interoperability resulting from the implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. They also welcomed the participation of the Royal Australian Air Force in the Indian Air Force’s Exercise Tarang Shakti in 2024, along with the planned navy-to-navy engagements between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy in 2026. India also welcomed Australia’s invitation to participate in the submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon.
Under the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement, both sides noted the steady increase in operational cooperation. Australia also announced expanded training opportunities for Indian personnel, including placements at the Australian Defence College in 2026 and, for the first time, an Indian cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027.
Boosting Defence Industry and Technology Linkages
Industrial cooperation was a major focus, with Australia’s first defence trade mission to India taking place from October 7 to 10, 2025, and the Australia–India Defence Industry Roundtable scheduled for October 10 in Sydney. These follow the establishment of the India Pavilion at the 2024 Land Forces Expo.
Both sides agreed to accelerate collaboration under the Joint Working Group on Defence Industry, Research and Materiel, exploring opportunities in joint R&D, advanced manufacturing, and ship maintenance. Australia welcomed India’s offer to provide repair and refit support for Royal Australian Navy vessels during regional deployments.
Shared Indo-Pacific Vision and Regional Cooperation
Reaffirming their commitment to a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific, the ministers emphasised freedom of navigation, adherence to international law, and, in particular, the principles of UNCLOS (1982). Both sides highlighted the expansion of cooperation in maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine operations, including coordinated patrol aircraft activities in the Indian Ocean.
India and Australia also noted the value of their emerging trilateral cooperation with Indonesia, and the potential to deepen coordination within the Quad (with Japan and the U.S.). A joint Quad activity is planned on the sidelines of Exercise Malabar 2025, alongside joint observation of Exercise Cope India.
Army Engagement and Future Outlook
Army cooperation continues to expand through Exercise Austrahind, amphibious and special operations training, and exchanges in air and missile defence and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The dialogue also took note of INS Kadmatt’s visits to Papua New Guinea and Fiji, reflecting India’s growing footprint in the Pacific.
Australia invited India to join future editions of Operation Render Safe, a regional humanitarian and explosive ordnance disposal mission.
According to the joint statement, Minister Marles accepted Defence Minister Singh’s invitation to visit India for the next Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in 2026, thereby ensuring continued momentum in advancing this strategic, technology-driven defence partnership.
Team BharatShakti
