07/09/2026
New Delhi, July 9: India and Australia on Thursday adopted a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, committing to significantly deepen military engagement, strengthen defence industrial collaboration and expand maritime security cooperation amid growing geostrategic uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific.
The declaration, adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, outlines an ambitious roadmap to elevate defence ties through closer strategic consultations, enhanced interoperability between the armed forces, expanded military exercises and greater collaboration in defence science, technology and industrial supply chains.
Earlier, PM Modi pitched India as a Long-term investment destination for Australian businesses and called for the early conclusion of the proposed bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
PM Modi made the remarks at the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Roadmap Business event in Melbourne, which he jointly addressed with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese.-Agencies