India and Australia on Thursday unveiled a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, committing to deepen strategic collaboration across defence, maritime security, cyber technologies, counter-terrorism and critical supply chains as the two countries seek to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and contribute to a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific.
The declaration, adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, reaffirms the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020 and builds on the foundation laid by the India-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed in 2009.
The two leaders said strategic convergence between India and Australia has accelerated in recent years, with stronger economic ties, closer people-to-people links and enhanced cooperation through bilateral mechanisms such as the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue and the Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. They also highlighted the role of multilateral platforms, including the Quad, in promoting peace, security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. PM Modi is in Australia as part of his three-nation tour.
Expressing concern over growing geostrategic uncertainty and threats to regional peace and stability, the two countries called for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and without the threat or use of force or coercion.
Reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific, India and Australia underscored the importance of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strengthening transparent and inclusive regional institutions.
The declaration also reiterated support for regional organisations, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN and ASEAN-led regional architecture, and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
As part of the enhanced partnership, the two countries agreed to accelerate defence cooperation by strengthening strategic dialogue, expanding military engagement and enhancing interoperability between their armed forces.
The declaration outlines plans to consult regularly on defence-related developments affecting shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, increase the complexity of bilateral and multilateral military exercises, improve information sharing, expand aircraft deployments from each other’s territories, deepen exchanges and training for defence personnel, and explore cooperation in developing skilled defence workforces.
Recognising the strategic importance of the maritime domain, India and Australia announced plans to strengthen cooperation through a dedicated India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap aimed at enhancing the depth, sophistication and regularity of bilateral maritime engagement.
The two countries also committed to expanding collaboration between their defence industries by encouraging greater industrial integration, strengthening resilient defence supply chains and promoting cooperation in defence innovation, science and advanced technologies.
On regional economic resilience, the declaration commits both countries to developing diversified and resilient supply chains, strengthening critical infrastructure and enhancing cooperation in critical minerals and clean energy technologies.
India and Australia also pledged to deepen cooperation in cyber security and critical and emerging technologies under the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (Australia-India PACTS), while enhancing information-sharing mechanisms and collaboration on strategic technologies.
Counter-terrorism cooperation will also be strengthened through greater intelligence sharing on terrorist threats, organisations and individuals operating in the region. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation to counter violent extremism and terrorism, particularly in the areas of emerging technologies, terror financing, protection of critical infrastructure and crowded places, maritime security and online radicalisation.
The declaration further reaffirms cooperation under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement signed in 2023 to combat irregular migration, human trafficking and people smuggling, while strengthening efforts against transnational organised crime.
India and Australia also committed to enhancing collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) through greater information sharing, expert exchanges and joint disaster response exercises, including cooperation under the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network. They will also explore mechanisms for contingency planning, coordinated disaster response and evacuation operations in third countries.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda by promoting the meaningful participation and leadership of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, peacekeeping and disaster response.
The declaration also reiterates the shared commitment of both countries to nuclear non-proliferation and the pursuit of a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons through global, complete, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.
Looking ahead, India and Australia pledged to deepen cooperation with regional partners, including through trilateral mechanisms, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and collaboration with the United States and Japan to promote a secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Concluding the declaration, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the ambitious agenda under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, describing deeper defence and security cooperation as a key pillar in strengthening regional peace, resilience and stability.
