India and Australia have issued a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation reaffirming their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020. The declaration commits both nations to strengthening their strategic partnership for an open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region based on rules-based architecture, adherence to international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The partnership will accelerate advanced, integrated defence and security cooperation through several key initiatives: undertaking consultations on defence-related developments in the Indo-Pacific affecting shared interests; increasing complexity of defence exercises including with partners; building interoperability and information sharing between defence forces; expanding aircraft deployments from each other's territories; deepening connections between defence force personnel through exchanges and training; and exploring opportunities for skilled defence workforce recruitment.
Maritime security cooperation will be enhanced through an India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, recognizing the centrality of the maritime domain to defence, security and economic interests. The partnership will encourage defence industry integration, supply chain resilience, and collaboration between defence innovation ecosystems for advanced defence science and technology.
Counter-terrorism cooperation will include increased information sharing on terrorist threats in the region, with specific focus on new and emerging technology, terrorism financing, critical infrastructure, crowded spaces, maritime domain security, and online radicalization. The nations will continue cooperation under the 2023 Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement to prevent irregular migration, people smuggling, and human trafficking.
Regional economic cooperation will focus on developing diverse and resilient supply chains for critical minerals and clean energy technologies. Technology cooperation will be enhanced through the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (Australia-India PACTS).
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) collaboration will be deepened through information sharing, expert exchanges, and joint exercises including the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network. The partnership will explore opportunities for sharing contingency planning and joint response coordination during disasters and crises, including support for regional and global evacuation operations.
The declaration reaffirms support for regional forums including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN, ASEAN-centred regional architecture, and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Both nations commit to continued cooperation with other Indo-Pacific partners, including trilateral cooperation mechanisms and deeper engagement through the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, while expanding cooperation with the United States and Japan.