Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting marked the fifth anniversary of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and underscored both nations’ commitment to further deepening their bilateral ties.
PM Modi congratulated Marles on the Australian Labor Party’s historic victory in the recent federal elections, reflecting the strength of the democratic values shared between the two nations.
The leaders engaged in wide-ranging discussions on key areas of collaboration, particularly focusing on strengthening defence industrial cooperation, building resilient supply chains, and enhancing partnerships in critical minerals and emerging technologies.
Reaffirming their shared vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, both leaders emphasized the importance of strategic alignment in maintaining peace and regional stability.
Marles reiterated Australia’s unwavering support for India’s efforts in combating cross-border terrorism—an issue of mutual concern that continues to shape security cooperation in the region.
During the meeting, PM Modi extended a formal invitation to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to attend the Annual India–Australia Summit, scheduled to be held in India later this year.
The visit comes at a pivotal moment in India–Australia relations, symbolizing the growing convergence of strategic, economic, and security interests between the two Indo-Pacific partners.
