India-Australia Deepen Defence Interoperability Across Every Position

India and Australia have agreed to strengthen their defence cooperation and interoperability across the maritime, land, and air domains. The discussions took place during the 9th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi on March 17, 2025. Both nations emphasized enhancing maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and science and technology collaboration. The meeting also reviewed past defence dialogues and set priorities for upcoming engagements, including the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Australia.

Key Highlights

Meeting Details

• Held on March 17, 2025, in New Delhi.
• Indian delegation led by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
• Australian delegation led by Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division.

Key Agendas Discussed

• Enhancing interoperability in maritime, land, and air domains.
• Strengthening cooperation in maritime domain awareness and reciprocal information sharing.
• Collaboration in defence industry, science, and technology.
• Deployments from each other’s territories to boost strategic engagement.

Review of previous defence dialogues

• 2+2 Ministerial Foreign & Defence Ministers’ Dialogue (Nov 2023).
• Inter-sessional 2+2 consultations (Oct 2024).
• Annual Leaders’ Summit (Nov 2024).

Defence Exercises and Agreements

• Acknowledgment of increased complexity and frequency of defence exercises.
• Finalisation of key agreements to enhance defence trade.
• Participation in each other’s major defence trade expositions.

Future Defence Cooperation

• Preparations for the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Australia (2025).
• Exploring defence industry collaboration and scientific research partnerships.
• Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership through defence initiatives.

Australian Delegation’s Visit

• Scheduled visit to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. in Mumbai.
• Australian co-chair to meet India’s Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	India-Australia Deepen Defence Interoperability Across Every Positionq
Event	9th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks
Location	New Delhi, India
Indian Representative	Amitabh Prasad (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence)
Australian Representative	Bernard Philip (First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division)
Key Discussions	– Deepening interoperability in maritime, land, and air domains. – Cooperation in maritime domain awareness and reciprocal information sharing. – Collaboration in defence industry, science, and technology. – Deployments from each other’s territories. – Strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership.
Reviewed Past Meetings	– 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (Nov 2023) – Inter-sessional 2+2 Consultations (Oct 2024) – Annual Leaders’ Summit (Nov 2024)
Future Plans	– Next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Australia (2025). – Expanding defence trade and joint military exercises. – Strengthening science & tech collaboration in defence.
Australian Delegation’s Visit	– Visit to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai. – Meeting with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.