2+2 Ministerial Dialogue India, Aus discuss defence ties

 

 

 

 

INDIA and Australia on Monday held 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue to step up defence cooperation and deepen the strategic relationship in sectors such as critical minerals and trade and investment. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong here as part of the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. In a post on X, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, “Ministers will exchange views on deepening multifaceted India-Australia ties, including in areas of defence and security, trade & investment, critical minerals, energy, climate change, S&T, space, education and people to people linkages.

 

Regional and global issues are also on agenda.” Ahead of the meeting, Wong and Marles visited the National War Memorial to pay respects to those who sacrificed their lives. “India and Australia have a long history of military relations – Australian soldiers have fought alongside Indian troops in a number of campaigns, including at Gallipoli,” Wong said on X. Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh held talks with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles during which they concurred that a strong bilateral defence partnership will “augur well” not just for the two countries but also for the overall security of the Indo-Pacific, officials said. The two ministers agreed that deepening cooperation in defence industry and research would “give a fillip to the already strong relationship”, according to a statement issued by the Indian defence ministry here.

 

Singh suggested that shipbuilding, ship repair and maintenance, and aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) could be the potential areas of collaboration. The leaders reaffirmed the commitment towards further strengthening the defence relations between the two countries, the statement said. Singh congratulated Marles on the maiden and successful conduct of multilateral exercise ‘Malabar’ by Australia in August this year. Marles is also the Australian Deputy Prime Minister.