Australia has reiterated its firm support for India’s stand against terrorism, with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles calling ties with New Delhi a “top priority” for Canberra’s national interest. During his official visit to India, Marles held extensive talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, focusing on defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Marles strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, offering condolences to the families of the victims and praising India’s measured response. “We welcome the cessation of military activity. This reflects Indian leadership,” he said in his televised remarks.
Singh, in turn, appreciated Australia’s unequivocal support following the Pahalgam attack. He underlined India’s right to self-defence against terrorism, particularly cross-border threats supported by Pakistan, while highlighting that India’s response remained “non-escalatory and responsible.”
The visit coincides with the fifth anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a milestone both nations marked by committing to deepen their defence and strategic cooperation. Singh noted the achievement of “significant milestones” in bilateral defence ties and emphasized working with “renewed momentum” to take this partnership forward.
The two ministers agreed to intensify and diversify cooperation in defence industries, including joint research and development. They welcomed the signing of a new joint research project and discussed expanding collaboration in defence science and technology during the upcoming 2+2 ministerial dialogue in Australia later this year.
In a separate meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Marles reaffirmed Australia’s support in combating terrorism and conveyed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s message of solidarity. Modi congratulated Marles on the Labor Party’s recent electoral victory and extended an invitation to Albanese for the annual India-Australia summit scheduled later this year.
Both leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas such as critical minerals, resilient supply chains, maritime security, and emerging technologies. A joint statement noted that the shared vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide the strategic engagement between the two countries.
The Indian Defence Ministry said the Singh-Marles dialogue provided an opportunity to review the overall status of bilateral defence ties amid evolving global and regional challenges. Their discussions included cyber security, counter-terrorism, hydrography, and maritime cooperation.
“Defence has emerged as a vital pillar of our strategic partnership,” the ministry noted, expressing satisfaction over the progress made in the past five years. Both sides pledged to continue working together for peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Marles described India as a key strategic partner. “We feel we have never had a more aligned strategic outlook with India than we do now. This is a time to make common cause with friends—and we certainly see India in that light,” he said.
He further stated Australia’s ambition to build a more robust roadmap for maritime security and defence collaboration, calling these initiatives crucial to elevating bilateral ties.
