India-Australia Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation
Prime Minister of India and Australian Prime Minister announced a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation. This initiative aims to deepen military engagement and expand maritime security cooperation amid increasing geostrategic uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific region.
Key Components of the Declaration
- Defence Ties and Military Engagement:
- Elevating defence relations through strategic consultations and enhanced interoperability between armed forces.
- Expanding military exercises and fostering collaboration in defence science, technology, and industrial supply chains.
- Maritime Security Cooperation:
- Implementation of an India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to enhance coordination in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific.
- Defence Industry Cooperation:
- Commitment to greater integration of defence industries and building resilient supply chains.
- Expanding collaboration in defence innovation and advanced science and technology.
Strategic Importance and Regional Stability
- Both nations express concern over geostrategic uncertainties and emphasize resolving disputes peacefully, adhering to international law.
- Reaffirmation of commitment to a free, open, peaceful, and stable Indo-Pacific, upholding international conventions like the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Support for regional institutions such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN-led regional architecture, and the Pacific Islands Forum as vital platforms for addressing regional challenges.
This declaration builds on the 2009 India-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and complements existing institutional mechanisms, including various high-level dialogues and frameworks.
