New Delhi, June 4, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic engagement, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, Hon. Richard Marles, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The meeting took place on a day of special significance, as India and Australia marked five years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
🔹 Key Highlights from the Meeting:
PM Modi congratulates Marles:
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Deputy PM Marles for the Australian Labor Party’s historic victory in the recent Federal elections. He appreciated Australia’s democratic success and leadership.
Celebrating 5 years of partnership:
The meeting coincided with the 5th anniversary of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a milestone that highlights growing collaboration between the two nations.
Discussion on strengthening ties:
Both leaders discussed ways to further deepen the strategic partnership, especially in defence cooperation, economic resilience, and emerging technologies.
Focus on key sectors of collaboration:
Defence industrial collaboration
Resilient and secure supply chains
Critical minerals and resources
Emerging technologies and innovation
Shared Indo-Pacific Vision:
PM Modi and DPM Marles reaffirmed their shared commitment to a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. They emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation and rules-based order in the region.
Australia’s stand on terrorism:
Deputy PM Marles expressed Australia’s continued support for India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, reaffirming solidarity on global security issues.
Invitation to Australian PM:
PM Modi also extended an official invitation to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to attend the Annual Summit to be held in India later this year.
🔍 Context & Significance:
This meeting reflects the evolving dynamics of India-Australia relations, especially as the Indo-Pacific region becomes central to global diplomacy. With both countries committed to democracy, free trade, and regional peace, the CSP has become a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation.
India and Australia have collaborated across a range of sectors:
Bilateral defence exercises (AUSINDEX, Malabar)
Clean energy transition
Education and skill development
People-to-people ties via student and migrant exchange
With geopolitical shifts and shared values, both leaders emphasized the need for deeper, actionable cooperation in coming years.
