Why in news? 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his visiting Australian counterpart Richard Marles will explore new initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements

Highlights:

• The two ministers will also exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest.
• The India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership is based on a shared vision of “free, open, inclusive and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
• “India and Australia share a comprehensive strategic partnership since June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership.

India-Australia Relations

• India-Australia has a very strategic partnership with each other in terms of trade, security, education, and so on.
• India and Australia have commercial ties dating back to the 18th century when India played a central role in nourishing the young colony.
• Trade with Australia came to be an important element in the operations of the East India Company in Bengal.
• Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council.
• Both India and Australia are members of the G-20, Commonwealth, IOR-ARC, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, and have participated in the East Asia Summits.
• Both countries have also been cooperating as members of the Five Interested Parties (FIP) in the WTO context.
• Australia is an important player in APEC and supports India’s membership in the organization.
• In 2008, Australia became an Observer in SAARC.
• The India-Australia defence relationship now encompasses almost every major function of the military: strategic dialogues, coordination, and information exchanges; military exercises involving ground, air, and maritime forces; exchanges and training; and defence scientific and technological cooperation.
• Australia participated in the MALABAR naval exercise in October 2020, joining India, the United States, and Japan.
• Engagement between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy has advanced significantly through the key bilateral exercise, AUSINDEX.

• Australia is India’s eighth largest trading partner and India is Australia’s fifth-largest.