India, Australia seal nuclear and defence deals to deepen strategic ties
India and Australia signed agreements on civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals after talks between Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese. The moves aim to deepen defence, clean energy, technology and trade cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
India and Australia on Thursday firmed up a raft of agreements to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese decided to give fresh momentum to bilateral ties.
The decisions came after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders in Australia, where Modi arrived from Indonesia in the second leg of his three-nation tour aimed at boosting trade and defence relations. Following the meeting, the two sides unveiled an India-Australia joint declaration on defence and security, a joint statement on energy ties, and a roadmap for collaboration in cyber, critical technologies and supply chains.
The civil nuclear energy pact will facilitate the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India for New Delhi's nuclear power projects. “Today, we have signed an important agreement in the field of nuclear energy. This will open the way for uranium supplies from Australia to India and give new impetus to our clean energy objectives,” Modi said in his media statement.
He said cooperation in critical minerals was important for strategic security and the clean energy transition. “Our cooperation in critical minerals is vital to our strategic security and clean energy transition. With this in mind, today we have launched the Australia-India Partnership on cyber, critical technologies, and supply chains,” he said. Modi added that the two sides would also work together on a critical minerals corridor.
On defence ties, Modi said the two countries were seeing growing engagement. “The Indo-Pacific is not just the confluence of two oceans. It also symbolises the shared aspirations of like-minded democracies like India and Australia,” he said. “Today, we have issued an important Joint Declaration to enhance cooperation in defence and security. Through the India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor, we will work to connect defence startups and industries.” He also said the India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap would give new impetus to shared efforts in the Indo-Pacific and added, “We will also move forward together in shipbuilding, ship repair, and maintenance.”
Modi said India and Australia recognised that terrorism posed a serious challenge not just to one country but to all humanity. “Therefore, our fight against terrorism is shared, our resolve unwavering, and our cooperation continues to strengthen,” he said. He added, “We also believe that the tensions and conflicts raging in many parts of the world can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Together, we will further strengthen peace, stability, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based order throughout the Indo-Pacific region.” Modi also said the two sides had decided to work expeditiously on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and would also work towards a bilateral investment treaty.
In his remarks, Albanese said Australia’s relationship with India had never been more consequential than it is today. “We share a focus on diversifying India-Australia ties so that we can continue to grow from strength to strength,” he said. The talks and agreements underlined the two countries’ push to deepen cooperation across energy, defence, technology, trade and regional security.
With PTI Inputs
India and Australia on Thursday firmed up a raft of agreements to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese decided to give fresh momentum to bilateral ties.
The decisions came after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders in Australia, where Modi arrived from Indonesia in the second leg of his three-nation tour aimed at boosting trade and defence relations. Following the meeting, the two sides unveiled an India-Australia joint declaration on defence and security, a joint statement on energy ties, and a roadmap for collaboration in cyber, critical technologies and supply chains.
The civil nuclear energy pact will facilitate the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India for New Delhi's nuclear power projects. “Today, we have signed an important agreement in the field of nuclear energy. This will open the way for uranium supplies from Australia to India and give new impetus to our clean energy objectives,” Modi said in his media statement.
He said cooperation in critical minerals was important for strategic security and the clean energy transition. “Our cooperation in critical minerals is vital to our strategic security and clean energy transition. With this in mind, today we have launched the Australia-India Partnership on cyber, critical technologies, and supply chains,” he said. Modi added that the two sides would also work together on a critical minerals corridor.
On defence ties, Modi said the two countries were seeing growing engagement. “The Indo-Pacific is not just the confluence of two oceans. It also symbolises the shared aspirations of like-minded democracies like India and Australia,” he said. “Today, we have issued an important Joint Declaration to enhance cooperation in defence and security. Through the India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor, we will work to connect defence startups and industries.” He also said the India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap would give new impetus to shared efforts in the Indo-Pacific and added, “We will also move forward together in shipbuilding, ship repair, and maintenance.”
Modi said India and Australia recognised that terrorism posed a serious challenge not just to one country but to all humanity. “Therefore, our fight against terrorism is shared, our resolve unwavering, and our cooperation continues to strengthen,” he said. He added, “We also believe that the tensions and conflicts raging in many parts of the world can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Together, we will further strengthen peace, stability, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based order throughout the Indo-Pacific region.” Modi also said the two sides had decided to work expeditiously on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and would also work towards a bilateral investment treaty.
In his remarks, Albanese said Australia’s relationship with India had never been more consequential than it is today. “We share a focus on diversifying India-Australia ties so that we can continue to grow from strength to strength,” he said. The talks and agreements underlined the two countries’ push to deepen cooperation across energy, defence, technology, trade and regional security.
With PTI Inputs
