New Delhi: India and Australia Thursday signed three agreements during the ongoing visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as both countries look to establish deeper cooperation in the critical area.
New Delhi has also offered to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul of Royal Australian Navy ships in Indian shipyards during their deployment to the Indian Ocean Region.
Singh held a wide-ranging bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, Richard Marles, in Canberra during his official two-day visit.
The meeting marked five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both sides “reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening defence cooperation across a wide spectrum, including military exercises, maritime security, defence industry collaboration and joint research in science and technology,” a statement by the defence ministry said.
The talks culminated with 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.
Singh was received by Assistant Minister of Defence of Australia, Peter Khalil, and was accorded a ceremonial stair guard welcome.
As part of his engagements, a live air-to-air refuelling demonstration was held onboard the KC-30A Multirole Transport and Tanker Aircraft (MRTT), refuelling an F-35 aircraft en route to Canberra. It showcased a demonstration of growing interoperability following last year’s Implementation Arrangement on Air-to-Air Refuelling between the two countries.
A Joint Statement was issued following the meeting, underscoring the growing depth and mutual trust that define the India-Australia Defence partnership.
It said that both Ministers discussed 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.
The ministers welcomed additional Indian students at the Australian Defence College in 2026, and a position at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027 for the first time.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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