India will participate in Australia’s Indo Pacific Endeavour Exercise in October this year

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Richard Marles on Wednesday reviewed the defence and security pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, the two Ministers reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities which have been increasing despite challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and discussed ways to enhance further cooperation.

Both the Ministers later described the meeting as "excellent".

"Had excellent deliberations with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr. Richard Marles in New Delhi today. We reviewed the full range of defence & strategic cooperation between both the countries and paved way for deepening it further," tweeted Singh.

"A warm welcome and excellent first meeting with @DefenceMinIndia @rajnathsingh, instrumental in advancing #defence ties.

We discussed our defence partnership & our shared ambition to ensure a secure, prosperous & resilient #IndoPacific," Marles tweeted.

According to a joint press statement, they reaffirmed their commitment towards implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values, of democracy and rule of law.

"They welcomed the growing diversity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges between the two countries and undertook to build upon operational engagements through the India-Australia Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement," the statement said.

Both Ministers committed to give a fillip to the India-Australia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Research and Materiel Cooperation, which will meet in Australia later this year. This JWG is a crucial mechanism for boosting ties between defence industries.

The Ministers discussed further opportunities for industrial cooperation between India and Australia to increase the resilience of supply chains and deliver capabilities to their respective defence forces. Both sides agreed to explore means to grow connections and opportunities between Indian and Australian defence industrial bases.

According to the joint press statement, both Ministers welcomed the plan to commence the landmark General Rawat Young Officer Exchange Programme in the latter half of 2022, which was announced during the virtual summit meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries on March 21, 2022.

The Ministers reviewed strategic challenges and the regional security situation and reaffirmed their shared objective of an open, free, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based Indo Pacific region. They looked forward to India’s participation in Australia’s Indo Pacific Endeavour exercise in October 2022.

The Deputy Prime Minister earlier visited the National War Memorial and paid homage to the war heroes by laying a wreath at the monument. The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour before the bilateral meeting with Singh.
Attachments area