Melbourne: India and Australia significantly strengthened their strategic partnership on Thursday by signing a series of landmark agreements covering defence, maritime security, energy, trade, education, critical minerals, cyber technology and civil nuclear cooperation. The agreements were finalised during the third annual India-Australia Summit in Melbourne, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
The summit marked a major step forward in bilateral relations as both countries committed to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors while reaffirming their shared vision for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
One of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the decision to operationalise the Civil Nuclear Agreement signed between the two countries in 2014. The administrative arrangement finalised during the meeting enables the export of Australian uranium to India for peaceful purposes, helping India increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy in its power generation while providing Australia with an additional market for its uranium resources.
The leaders also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is expected to further expand bilateral trade and investment. Prime Minister Modi described the proposed agreement as balanced, ambitious and mutually beneficial, adding that both countries would also fast-track discussions on a Bilateral Investment Treaty to strengthen economic cooperation.
The two sides acknowledged the positive impact of the existing India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), stating that businesses and consumers in both nations have already benefited from reduced trade barriers. They also pledged to remove remaining non-tariff barriers and promote institutional financing to encourage greater private sector investment.
Defence and security cooperation emerged as another major pillar of the summit. India and Australia signed a Joint Declaration aimed at strengthening collaboration in defence, military innovation and maritime security. Modi said the Indo-Pacific represents not only the meeting point of two oceans but also the shared aspirations of democratic nations committed to peace, stability and freedom of navigation.
As part of the enhanced defence partnership, both countries announced plans to establish an India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor that will connect defence industries and start-ups, encouraging collaboration in advanced technologies and innovation. They also unveiled a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to deepen cooperation in maritime surveillance, shipbuilding, ship repair and maintenance.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described India as one of Australia’s top-tier security partners. He said the new defence declaration would deepen practical military cooperation, increase the complexity of joint defence exercises and improve interoperability between the armed forces of both countries. He emphasised that Australia and India remain committed to ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The summit took place against the backdrop of growing geopolitical challenges, including China’s increasingly assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific and disruptions to maritime trade caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Reaffirming their shared commitment to international law, both leaders stressed the importance of respecting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and opposed any unilateral attempts to alter the regional status quo.
Energy security and clean energy cooperation also featured prominently during the talks. The two countries agreed to establish a Rooftop Solar Training Academy in Gujarat under India’s PM Surya Ghar Yojana. The initiative aims to train women and young people in rooftop solar technologies, supporting India’s renewable energy expansion while creating skilled employment opportunities.
Recognising the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies and clean energy transitions, the leaders announced deeper cooperation in this sector. They also launched the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), which focuses on strengthening cybersecurity, semiconductor research, digital resilience and diversified supply chains.
Further expanding technological collaboration, Australia, India and Canada signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding under the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) framework. The agreement seeks to build trusted technological partnerships among the three Commonwealth nations.
Education and skill development formed another important component of the summit outcomes. The University Grants Commission issued a Letter of Intent to Flinders University for establishing its branch campus in Bengaluru, while Victoria University received approval to open its campus in Gurgaon. These initiatives are expected to strengthen academic collaboration and expand opportunities for Indian students.
In addition, the Government of Western Australia signed an agreement with India to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Mining at the National Skill Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, aimed at developing specialised skills for the mining sector.
The two countries also reached an agreement on cultural heritage, with Australia agreeing to repatriate several ancient Indian artefacts. These include a sacred granite Nandi dating back to the 11th-12th century, an 11th-century bronze trident depicting the auspicious Kali, and a 12th-century basalt sculpture of the six-headed Skanda.
Addressing global security concerns, Modi reiterated India’s firm stand against terrorism, stating that terrorism remains a challenge for humanity and requires collective international action. He said India and Australia would continue strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism and emphasised that global conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Speaking after the summit, Modi described India and Australia as vibrant democracies, multicultural societies and significant ocean powers with shared interests in maintaining peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. Albanese echoed these sentiments, noting that six years into their strategic partnership, bilateral relations had never been stronger or more consequential.
Concluding the summit on a lighter note, Modi drew a cricket analogy to describe the evolving partnership between the two nations. He remarked that the agenda was focused like a One-Day International, decisions were taken swiftly like a T20 match, and the relationship itself was enduring and deep like a Test match.
Following the successful conclusion of the annual summit in Melbourne, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to continue his three-nation tour with a visit to New Zealand, where further diplomatic engagements are expected.
