Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Canberra on Thursday for an official two-day visit to strengthen India-Australia defence ties and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
He was received at the Royal Australian Air Force Base by Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil. Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and other senior Australian leaders to discuss key areas such as maritime security, defence technology collaboration, and regional challenges.
On social media platform X, Rajnath Singh wrote, “I look forward to exploring ideas for deeper cooperation. This visit comes at a historic moment when India and Australia mark five years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
This marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia under the Modi government since 2014. During the trip, Singh will attend a business roundtable in Sydney to promote defence industry partnerships and sign three key agreements focusing on information sharing, maritime domain awareness, and joint military activities.
The India-Australia defence partnership continues to grow through joint military exercises, naval exchanges, and training programmes. Their relationship, upgraded from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, reflects shared democratic values and mutual interests in regional stability.
Earlier this year, both leaders condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed cooperation against global terrorism. Singh emphasized India’s right to self-defence and a responsible approach to cross-border threats.
His visit is expected to add new momentum to India-Australia defence relations, reinforcing both nations’ shared commitment to peace, stability, and a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
