Defence Diplomacy in Action: India and Australia Chart a Bold Course Forward

As part of his official tour to Australia, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the historic HMAS Kuttabul naval base in Sydney on Friday. Accompanied by Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil, Singh was briefed on the cutting-edge maritime facilities at Sydney Harbour and was taken on a guided tour aboard the vessel Admiral Hudson.

The visit underscored the growing alignment between the Indian and Australian naval forces and highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) across the Indo-Pacific. Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing naval collaboration aimed at ensuring regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Later in the day, Singh and Khalil co-chaired the inaugural India–Australia Defence Industry Business Roundtable, marking a significant step in boosting bilateral defence industrial cooperation. The discussions focused on advancing joint efforts in defence technology, manufacturing, and innovation, with a strong emphasis on leveraging India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives to promote co-development and collaborative projects.

Key representatives from the defence industries of both countries participated in the roundtable, expressing keen interest in exploring new opportunities for partnerships and investment. Their active engagement reflected a mutual desire to further elevate the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through industrial and technological collaboration.

In the evening, Minister Singh addressed members of the Indian community at a special event hosted by the Consulate General of India in Sydney. He commended the community for playing a vital role in strengthening the cultural, economic, and strategic ties between the two nations, emphasizing their contributions as a bridge between India and Australia.

Minister Singh’s visit not only reaffirmed the shared strategic vision of both nations but also laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration in defence, industry, and people-to-people ties—underscoring the evolving partnership between two key Indo-Pacific democracies.