Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong will arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday for the 16th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, in a visit that underscores growing strategic alignment between the two countries.
Wong’s trip comes as India and Australia expand cooperation under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both sides focusing on Indo-Pacific security, technology, and economic resilience. The Australian Embassy said the meeting will be her 26th engagement with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, highlighting the steadiness of the bilateral relationship.
Wong described India and Australia as “closer than ever” and said the partnership was becoming increasingly important in a “sharper and more competitive world,” reflecting shared concerns over regional security and the rules-based order.
The ministers are expected to outline the next phase of cooperation, including cyber and strategic technologies, maritime security, defence, trade, sports, and people-to-people links. Wong said she aimed to set a “more ambitious, future-focused agenda” with Jaishankar.
Earlier in November, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and Skills Minister Andrew J. Giles in Melbourne to discuss expanding economic ties, including progress toward a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
Bilateral trade has grown since the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) took effect in 2022. India’s key exports to Australia include petroleum products, engineering goods and pharmaceuticals, while Australia mainly exports coal, gold and copper to India. Both countries have set a target of reaching $100 billion in trade by 2030.
–IANS
