NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny Wong, in Canberra on October 9, 2025. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhancing cooperation in defence, security and regional stability.
Earlier on Thursday, Rajnath Singh met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and hailed the fillip towards the bilateral relationship.
During the meeting, the Australian PM underscored how India and Australia’s defence partnership is built on trust, shared interests and a commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
In a post on X he said, “Australia and India’s defence partnership keeps getting stronger – built on trust, shared interests and a commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Great to meet with the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his first trip to Australia for the Inaugural Australia-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue.”
Singh also held a productive meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Australia defence cooperation, including defence industry, cyber defence, maritime security and regional challenges. India and Australia inked key defence agreements during the visit of the Defence Minister.
Marles has described the newly signed defence agreement with India as a “hugely significant step” in strengthening the operational partnership between the two nations’ armed forces.
Marles said, “I think the significance of today is that what we are seeing in terms of deep trust and strategic alignment is now being expressed in a much deeper operational level of engagement between our two defence forces. The Agreement that we have signed in terms of staff talks between our operational commands is hugely significant… We are very excited about that.”
Singh arrived in Canberra on Thursday as part of his official visit to Australia aimed at strengthening defence and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Rajnath Singh underlined the growing ‘dosti’ (friendship) between India & Australia, built on mutual trust and shared democratic principles rather than transactional interests. Ms Wong praised the significant contribution of the vibrant Indian diaspora to Australian society and emphasised that while the two nations are geographically distant, their perspectives & values remain closely aligned.
He also paid homage to the fallen heroes at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Fallen Soldier. He honoured the memory of Indian soldiers who fought valiantly alongside their Australian comrades in distant lands, symbolising the enduring camaraderie and shared sacrifices between the Armed Forces of the two nations.
The talks culminated in the signing of three key agreements: an Agreement on Information Sharing, an MoU on Submarine Search and Rescue Cooperation and Terms of Reference on the establishment of Joint Staff Talks.
As per the joint statement, the Dialogue reflected “unprecedented progress in the bilateral defence partnership and Ministers’ ambition to enhance cooperation, following the four bilateral meetings between the Ministers since the elevation of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.”
The defence ties have witnessed expansion in all domains involving the Army, Navy and the Air Forces, apart from the two Ministries of Defence. There has been, as appreciated by the two ministers, increase in frequency and complexity of defence exercises and exchanges and the increasing interoperability through implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.
Significant for the ties, India-Australia confirms to hold the defence ministers dialogue annually. “Ministers committed to expand the bilateral defence architecture and enhance consultation and cooperation by conducting an annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue.”, Australia said.
The Thursday discussion also involved a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to advance maritime cooperation, and looked forward to Prime Ministers renewing and strengthening the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation.
