Maritime patrol aircraft, undersea awareness: India, Australia step up defence cooperation

India and Australia have agreed to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation, with both countries moving towards finalising a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap and expanding partnership across the Indo-Pacific region.

The decisions were announced following the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue held in India, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Australian deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

The two sides reviewed progress made since the inaugural dialogue held in October 2025 and discussed ways to strengthen strategic and defence ties.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation and advance the long-term vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

They also welcomed progress towards renewing and strengthening the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation.

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Maritime security cooperation in focus

A key outcome of the dialogue was the progress made towards finalising the Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. Both countries agreed to expand maritime domain awareness activities through cooperation between maritime patrol aircraft and explore opportunities to improve undersea domain awareness.

The ministers also encouraged closer cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and Australia's Maritime Border Command. Reaffirming their commitment to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The two sides stressed the importance of freedom of navigation, overflight and adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

India and Australia, which jointly lead the Indian Ocean Rim Association's Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, will also host a Search and Rescue (SAR) and tabletop exercise at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai in June 2026.

The exercise is aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security cooperation across the Indian Ocean Region.

Defence industry and military engagement

The two countries announced plans to begin work on an MOU for the provision of defence articles and defence services, a move expected to deepen defence industrial partnership.

The ministers also welcomed growing engagement between their armed forces and looked forward to greater participation in each other's military exercises.

India is expected to enhance its participation in Australia's Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027, while Australia welcomed India's involvement in Exercise Kakadu and other multinational exercises.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence science and technology, particularly in emerging areas such as sensor technologies. Australia invited India to participate in the 2026 Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research Summit.

Quad and Indo-Pacific cooperation

The ministers welcomed growing strategic convergence among India, Australia, Japan and the United States under the Quad framework.

They expressed strong support for the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative and agreed to work towards developing a Common Operational Picture across the Indo-Pacific by building on existing maritime domain awareness efforts.