Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Australia as part of his three-nation tour, expressed his commitment to taking the bilateral ties between India and Australia to the next level. In an interview with “The Australian” newspaper, Modi emphasized the shared challenges faced by the Indo-Pacific region, including climate change, terrorism, security of sea lanes of communication, and piracy, and stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address them.
Modi stated his desire to enhance defense and security cooperation with Australia, aiming to ensure an “open and free” Indo-Pacific. He underlined his determination to explore new areas of complementarity and expand cooperation between the two nations. The Indian Prime Minister praised his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, for sharing the same drive for progress and expressed confidence in their ability to elevate the relationship further.
During his visit, Modi engaged in talks with Albanese and attended a community event celebrating India’s vibrant and diverse diaspora in Australia. He highlighted the importance of realizing the true potential of defense and security ties, highlighting the increasing defense links between the two countries. Both India and Australia share strategic viewpoints and have a high degree of mutual trust, which has translated into greater cooperation in defense and security matters, including joint naval exercises.
Addressing concerns about India’s stance on Russia amidst Australia’s criticism of Russia’s war with Ukraine, Modi emphasized that being good friends allowed for open discussions and appreciation of each other’s viewpoints. He affirmed that Australia understands India’s position and that it does not impact their bilateral relationship.
Modi expressed optimism that his visit would pave the way for identifying new areas of cooperation, such as technology, clean energy, critical minerals, mining, cybersecurity, resilient supply chains, and the movement of skilled professionals. He highlighted the significant progress made in the bilateral relationship since his last visit, including annual summits, an economic cooperation and trade agreement, and the elevation of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Various sectors, including defense, security, investment, education, water, climate change, renewable energy, sports, science, health, and culture, have witnessed substantial advancements.
The Indian Prime Minister acknowledged the strength of people-to-people contacts as a vital pillar of the partnership, noting the increase in the Indian diaspora in Australia in recent years. Modi’s visit aimed to reinforce the strong ties between the two nations and lay the groundwork for further collaboration in various domains for the benefit of both countries.
The visit to Australia marked the successful conclusion of Prime Minister Modi’s three-nation tour, which also included visits to Japan and South Korea. His engagements and discussions during the tour were focused on strengthening bilateral relations, addressing shared challenges, and exploring avenues for mutual growth and cooperation.
