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By doing this, 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 his Australian counterpart 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.