India, Australia to ink 3 pacts during Rajnath’s visit to Canberra this week

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to Australia beginning Thursday to explore “new and meaningful” initiatives to further expand bilateral defence and strategic ties.

The two sides are set to ink three agreements during Singh’s visit that will provide for further boosting cooperation in the areas of information sharing, expanding maritime security ties and joint activities.

India and Australia are also expected to carry out a detailed review of the current situation in the Indo-Pacific amid growing global concerns over China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the region.

Singh’s trip to Australia will mark the first-ever visit of a defence minister to Australia under the Modi government since 2014.

“The visit comes at a historic moment when India and Australia commemorate five years of establishment of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP),” the defence ministry said.

Singh is travelling to the country at the invitation of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

“The visit will provide an important opportunity for both sides to explore new and meaningful initiatives to further strengthen the bilateral relationship and the defence partnership,” the ministry said in a statement. A key highlight of Singh’s visit will be the bilateral discussions with his Australian counterpart.

He will also chair a business roundtable in Sydney, which will be attended by industry leaders from both sides. Singh will also call on other national leaders of Australia.

The India-Australia defence engagements have expanded in the last few year, including in areas of capacity-building, training, ship visits and bilateral exercises.

India and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship from a strategic partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2020. PTI