Australia India Defence Conclave
Australia India Defence Conclave
From Concepts to Capabilities: Next Steps for the Defence Relationship
Canberra, 9 October 2025
Five years into the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Australia and India have moved fast – including in their defence relationship. But with finite capacity on both sides, the next five years must prioritise cooperation that compounds their combined impact in the Indo-Pacific.
The challenge is growing more urgent as the very strategic frictions that brought them close are intensifying. These include great power competition in the Indo-Pacific with China’s growing assertiveness, as well as a US whose defence and strategic policy is shifting. The question now is whether cooperation between Australia and India is keeping pace.
This one-day, closed-door Conclave is a compass check. Under the Chatham House Rule, it will translate political intent into practical steps through structured, interactive exercises. It will advance the work contained in Australia India Institute’s capstone report, ‘Building a Resilient Australia-India Defence Relationship’. This will provide a clear framework for stronger defence ties and collaboration under the Institute’s Defence Program.
Objectives
The inaugural Australia India Defence Conclave will bridge the gap between strategic intent and practical implementation. With both countries aligned on the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the conclave will focus on how to convert this shared vision into tangible defence capabilities. It will expand the remit of the Australia India defence relationship to include the ways in which the two support a strong and resilient region.
Invited experts in defence operations, strategic and economic policy, industry and academia will be brought together for structured, scenario-based discussions which will test ideas against regional concerns and real-world contingencies. The aim is to move past commentary to forward-leaning analysis and concrete policy recommendations.
This Conclave is hosted by the Australia India Institute and supported by the Australian Department of Defence.
Key Areas of Bilateral Interest
The Australia India Institute will address prevalent security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including:
- Maritime cooperation and security challenges
- Strategic coordination in multilateral and regional forums
- Defence technology and industrial cooperation
- Secure connectivity and infrastructure
- Strengthening regional governanc