Hello everyone,
It is a pleasure to be here at the Asian College of Journalism in a wonderful city, Chennai. Thank you for inviting me to share my remarks on Australia and India partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia and India stand today as pillars of stability, cooperation, and shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ties between our two nations have never been stronger, a fact that was symbolically underscored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia last year, where he received a rockstar like welcome. This welcome was not just a celebration of a leader but a recognition of the deepening bond between our two nations—two English-speaking, multicultural democracies united by a commitment to the rule of law and a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, as we say in our motto!
Today, few countries in the Indo-Pacific have as much in common, both in values and strategic interests, as India and Australia. We are partners in shaping the future of a region that is rapidly becoming the most consequential arena of global power dynamics.
The Indo-Pacific region, home to two-thirds of the global economy and three-fifths of the world’s population, is not just a geographical expanse but a dynamic zone where security and development are intrinsically linked.
India and Australia are proving that by working together, security can indeed be a catalyst for development, and development, in turn, can enhance security.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recognized India as a “top-tier security partner” for Australia, a sentiment shared by Defense Minister Richard Marles, who emphasized that “the Australian Government is committed to placing India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
This is not just rhetoric but a reflection of the reality that our nations are now collaborating more closely than ever before, both bilaterally through elevating partnership to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership level and bringing the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) into force, and multilaterally through forums such as the Quad, IORA, G20, and various trilaterals.
Under the Albanese government, Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS) underscores the importance of its partnership with India, highlighting that “practical and tangible cooperation with India directly contributes to the Indo-Pacific stability.”
This shared vision was also elaborated by Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, during the Australia India Leadership Dialogue (AILD), where he highlighted the convergence in our understanding of the geo-strategic environment in our common Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific is at the core of global maritime trade, facilitating over 60% of global trade through its waters, and it also hosts seven of the world’s ten largest standing armies and is poised to drive two-thirds of global economic growth in the coming years.
This makes the region a crucial nexus where security and economic interests intersect, and where the cooperation between India and Australia is setting a powerful example and will continue to do so.
However, the region is not without its challenges.
From geopolitical tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula to piracy in the Malacca Strait and illegal fishing worth billions of dollars, the Indo-Pacific faces a range of security threats that can disrupt the stability and prosperity of the entire globe.
The climate crisis adds another layer of complexity. By 2050, the Indo-Pacific could see up to 89 million climate refugees, a staggering figure that underscores the urgency of building resilience against climate change. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a grim reminder of the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, and the challenges have only multiplied since then.
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is another issue impacted in the Indian Pacific Ocean. Illegal fishing activities are worth millions. That’s a huge problem and these practices are also damaging marine ecosystems and threatening the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
In response to these challenges, India and Australia have been proactive in strengthening maritime cooperation. Our joint military exercises, such as MALABAR—hosted in Australia for the first time in 2023—are just one example.
The 6th India-Australia Maritime Security Dialogue, held in Canberra, further solidified our commitment to ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment. Discussions covered critical areas such as Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and the sustainable use of ocean resources.
This cooperation is also extended to multilateral forums. Australia’s participation in India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), particularly in leading the Maritime Ecology pillar, exemplifies our shared commitment to addressing the broader challenges of the region.
The Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) is a testament to our practical collaboration on reducing marine pollution, promoting sustainable development, and securing the global commons.
Beyond maritime security, our partnership extends into other critical areas. The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) and our cooperation in defense science and technology are vital components of our shared security framework.
Exercises like Tarang Shakti, AUSINDEX, and PITCHBLACK highlight our growing military cooperation across all domains—land, sea, and air.
Moreover, our engagement is contributing to the broader regional architecture. Through the 2+2 Dialogue, we reaffirmed our commitment to multilateral forums like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and emphasized the importance of inclusive cooperation that goes beyond bloc-style competition.
Trade: Our economic relationship is also flourishing. Bilateral trade has seen significant growth, with trade volumes increasing by 41% from 2021 to 2022. India is now Australia’s sixth-largest trading partner, and our collaboration in critical minerals is set to drive future growth, particularly as both nations are committed to achieving their net-zero targets.
Diaspora: The Indian community in Australia, now the second-largest migrant group, plays a pivotal role in this relationship. Their growing influence is evident in the large-scale celebrations of Indian festivals across Australia, a reflection of the deep cultural ties that bind our nations.
Another important thing that both Australia and India understand well is that challenges lying in the Indo-Pacific region are global in nature and they require global solution for which two countries are not enough. So, our vision for the Indo-Pacific is not limited to just our two countries
We recognize that there is a pressing need to engage with the broader region, particularly the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are most vulnerable to climate change. Together, Australia and India can lead the way in building resilience through collaborative efforts that prioritize the needs of these states.
Furthermore, as we debate the divisiveness of the Indo-Pacific concept, it is essential that we engage with countries that feel excluded from this narrative. Our partnership can play a crucial role in bridging these divides, ensuring that the Indo-Pacific is a region of inclusion, not exclusion.
Kolkata Dialogue
Finally, I want to let you know on this, last year we hosted the inaugural Kolkata Dialogue to explore how these island states can be made more resilient and what requires for their capacity building and protecting the ‘Blue Economy’. This Track 1.5 dialogue was attended by government officials and think tank experts from Australia and India.
We addressed common challenges faced by Australia and India, like pushback from island nations and concerns about dominance by larger countries. We also discussed the strengths and weaknesses in regional organizations like the Indian Ocean Rim Association compared to the Pacific Islands Forum.
We recognised the importance of addressing disinformation campaigns in island nations. Information plays a crucial role in strategic affairs, and experts raised concerns about the increase in disinformation aimed at creating negative perceptions of countries like India among island states.
Early next year we are gearing up to hosting a second iteration in Fiji, looking at how Australia and India can support the security needs of the Pacific and Indian Ocean Island states.
The inclusion of island states is very important to understand their needs and the way they would like us to assist them in their capacity building and making them more resilient, which is ultimately going to contribute to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-pacific region.
Overall, the Australia-India partnership in the Indo-Pacific is more than just a strategic alignment; it is a demonstration of how security and development can be mutually reinforcing. As we look to the future, our cooperation will continue to evolve, addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that the Indo-Pacific presents.
Together, we can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace, prosperity, and shared progress. Thank you.