Richard Marles congratulated Rajnath Singh for taking charge as the Defence Minister for a second consecutive term. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephone conversation with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles on July 4 and the discussions focused on closer collaboration between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific. 

“We reviewed a range of issues pertaining to defence cooperation and discussed closer collaboration between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific. We place great value on India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia,” Mr. Singh said on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). 

Both Ministers noted the transformative progress in defence cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership, and appreciated the momentum achieved in the ties since the last India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, which the two Ministers attended in November 2023, a Defence Ministry statement said. Australia considers India a top-tier security partner in their National Defence Strategy document released few months back.

Mr. Richard Marles congratulated Rajnath Singh for taking charge as the Defence Minister for a second consecutive term, and appreciated the functioning of the Indian democratic system wherein people voted in large numbers, the statement added.

Philip Green, Australian Envoy to India. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Any bilateral relationship can experience “occasional speed bumps” but our strategic, economic, and people to people partnerships with India are very strong, said Philip Green, Australian Envoy to India. “I am very confident we will move ahead with great velocity in the years to come.” The envoy refused to answer questions on “intelligence matters.”

Last week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia will uphold its democratic values in the face of “foreign interference”. She was responding to reports that India had at one point in the past operated a “nest of spies” on Australian soil. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had reported that Indian ‘spies’ were “kicked out” after they were “caught trying to steal secrets about sensitive defence projects and airport security.”

Strategic balance

“India is an indispensable part of the balancing… and the strategic balance in the Indian Ocean cannot be fashioned without engagement with India… Beyond the defence domain, and this is really important, we see India as a key partner in economic security. We want to develop better supply chain resilience… Beyond that, India is a key part of our trade diversification agenda,” Mr. Green said speaking at the Observer Research Foundation.

On April 17, Australia released its new National Defence Strategy (NDS) 2024 which termed India a “top-tier security partner” and said that through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, the government is continuing to prioritise “practical and tangible cooperation” that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability. The Envoy said what is most notable is how fast India has become a top tier partner, compared to many others. It happened over the last five years, he noted.

Mr. Green said the Indo-Pacific region is experiencing superpower competition and boundary disputes are intensifying. “China is undertaking the biggest military buildup the world has seen since World War II. And that build up is happening without transparency or strategic reassurance,” he stated.

Chinese arms build up

He also referred to China’s territorial disputes and how it managed them. Given the strategic risks, the Envoy said they want a region where the large and the mighty don’t dominate the small and the less mighty.

What we are seeking to establish for ourselves is a sustainable strategic balance and a region where states can express their sovereignty and freedom, Mr. Green stated.

Australia is doubling down on military capability, Mr. Green said noting that defence spending has increased from 2.1% to 2.4% of GDP and the Army is being transformed into an amphibious force, while the surface combat fleet is being doubled.

The Envoy said recent bilateral visits have tempered the relationship with China. He said they have reached a “new equilibrium” with China. We know we have differences with China and we are able to express the problems and discuss them in private and exist side by side, he said noting that China is a very important trade and economic partner.

New Delhi:

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia this year, politician and the 32nd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick has said that the reception he got in Sydney was of a rockstar one.

Praising the popularity of PM Modi across the globe, Australian speaker Milton Dick, in an exclusive interview with ANI on Thursday, said, “Our PM (Anthony Albanese) visited here, and indeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Australia earlier this year. I can’t underscore just how important those visits are. We have seen our PM visit twice and a very successful visit by PM Modi to Australia. In my lifetime, I have never seen such a response or such avidly pouring support for a world leader and it was such a privilege for our country to host the Prime Minister.”

“The reception he received in Sydney was really one of a rockstar. Thousands of people turned out. And, if you go to Australia, there are 1 million people of Indian heritage…Not only does that make our country stronger but it makes our link even stronger between India and Australia,” he said.

Speaking further on PM Modi’s popularity as a world leader, he added, “I think the Prime Minister has worked hard on building those relationships… even our Prime Minister values those friendships as well. I guess it is about ensuring over the last year to year and a half where we have seen ministers visiting from here to India. This is not my first visit to India and I came to India as a newly elected member of the parliament in 2018. It was a very visit for me as a parliamentarian and it shaped my views and values about the Indian economy and the Indian community. And now as the 32nd speaker of the House of Representatives to lead a delegation to India has been the honour of a lifetime.”

During his three-day visit to Australia in May this year, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Albanese and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians.

At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi’s mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen, who incidentally is famed among his fans as “The Boss.”

The Australia-India relationship is already strong, but both saw the potential for growth and an opportunity for a better future.

PM Modi also thanked the people of Australia, the Government of Australia and his Australian counterpart for the warm welcome and hospitality. PM Modi reassured that the two leaders would work together to strengthen the friendship of the two countries.

The Australian speaker also spoke about the G20 Summit which was conducted under India’s Presidency this year.

He said, “I will be discussing important issues as part of presiding officers of the G20 which India has done a brilliant job by hosting this year.”

On the question related to SDGs and climate, he said, “The title of the G20 agenda is one earth, one family, one future —and I think the unification that we have seen is a result of the G20 conversations that we could walk at the beginning to now, have really dealt with really some important issues…Australia places great importance on G20.”

Emphasising on strong bilateral partnership between India and Australia, the Australian politician said that both countries share a love of Democracy, and the ties are emerging stronger than ever.

“Australia and India share a love of Democracy and our parliaments are getting stronger and stronger all the time. We will be looking forward to meeting with Speaker Om Birla– a speaker of great respect around the region and across the globe…Our relationship has never been stronger or I believe never deeper in its engagement,” he said.

Furthermore, he also said that the people-to-people ties between India and Australia are also at their best and that Australia is open to more business with India as the future is strong in the region.

“I think if you look at one specific…– the economic agreement that was signed last year, and the ongoing work that is ongoing between the two countries around the comprehensive free trade agreement…as negotiations continue…we will see sooner rather than later…We certainly are open for more business in Australia with India…we know the future is strong here in this region and those economic partnerships continue to strengthen the people-to-people relationships,” he added.

Notably, the Presiding officers of G20 member countries and invited countries have begun to arrive in New Delhi for the opening of the 9th edition of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20 Summit).

The Australian speaker is also in the national capital to participate in the Summit.

The P20 Summit brings together speakers/heads of legislatures of G20 member countries and guest countries to explore how Parliaments might effectively advance global governance, bringing a parliamentary perspective to governance challenges and solutions towards addressing them.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)