10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks
- 09 May 2026
On 8th May 2026, India and Australia held the 10th edition of the India-Australia Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi, reaffirming their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expanding bilateral defence cooperation.
Key Points
- Defence Ministers’ Dialogue: The annual India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, established in 2025, was recognised as an important mechanism for deeper strategic consultation and trust-building.
- Joint Staff Talks Planned: India and Australia agreed to hold the first India-Australia Joint Staff Talks later in 2026.
- 2024 Leaders’ Summit Outcomes Reviewed: Both countries reviewed progress on commitments made during the 2024 India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit.
- Maritime Security Roadmap: Discussions included developing a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to strengthen Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.
- Enhanced Joint Exercises: Both nations welcomed the increasing frequency and complexity of bilateral military exercises across domains.
- Interoperability Focus: The two countries agreed to deepen interoperability among their armed forces in land, air, maritime, and other operational domains.
- Regional Cooperation: India and Australia reaffirmed commitment to working with regional partners for peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Training Exchanges: Programmes such as the Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme and exchanges between the Indian Military Academy and Royal Military College, Duntroon were highlighted.
- Defence Industry Collaboration: Both sides stressed the strategic importance of defence industrial cooperation and integration between defence industries.
- Industry Engagements: Key initiatives included the India-Australia Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney (2025), Australia’s first defence trade mission to India, and discussions at the Raisina Dialogue 2026.
