Australian Defence Minister to visit India to boost security ties
“I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral defence ministers’ meeting,” Marles said.
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New Delhi, June 20: Ahead of his visit to India, Australian defence minister Richard Marles said he is eager to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. Marles’ visit to India will begin on June 20.
“A deeper bilateral relationship with India is critically important for our country, and developing the defence and security side of that is a huge priority,” Marles said.
Canberra and New Delhi ties are warm after both nations signed the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in April allowing Indian businesses greater and duty-free access to Australian markets.
“There is huge scope for us to do more with India and I will be keen to explore with the Indian government what can be done,” Marles added.
“I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral defence ministers’ meeting,” Marles said. Discussions about national security and defence policymakers and personnel will be held with Union minister of external affairs S Jaishankar.
The Australian deputy PM’s visit to New Delhi comes after his visit to Tokyo where he discussed with Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi China’s growing acts of aggression in the Indo-Pacific. His visit marks the first high-level visit from Australia after newly-elected PM Anthony Albanese took office on May 23.
“A deeper bilateral relationship with India is critically important for our country, and developing the defence and security side of that is a huge priority,” Marles said.
Canberra wants to bring India in the inner circle of Australia’s strategic partnerships within 2035 and the Albanese-led government is following the footsteps of its predecessor in prioritizing its relations with New Delhi. Both nations participate in the tri-service staff-level military dialogues and are signatories of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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They also perform war drills under the AUSINDEX, an exercise which ensures mutual interoperability along with the Malabar exercise.
Canberra and New Delhi ties are warm after both nations signed the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in April allowing Indian businesses greater and duty-free access to Australian markets.
“There is huge scope for us to do more with India and I will be keen to explore with the Indian government what can be done,” Marles added.