Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 10 SEP: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held talks with his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton and discussed ways to expand the bilateral defence cooperation, as well as, cooperation in emerging defence technologies.
Welcoming his Australian counterpart for the inaugural ministerial “2+2” dialogue, Mr Singh said both sides will expand military engagements. The Australian Minister referred to India’s role in the region as “essential”.
“Both of us are keen to work jointly to realise the full potential of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This partnership is based on our shared vision of free, open, inclusive and rule-based Indo-Pacific region,” said Mr.Singh in his remarks at the joint press statement.
Mr Singh also emphasised that India is committed to building a robust partnership with Australia for the security and growth of the entire region.
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton noted that India’s leadership is essential to Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy. “India’s leadership is essential to Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy. We share one of the world’s important oceans. We both want a stable, resilient, secure and strategic neighbourhood,” said Mr Dutton.
After the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Singh also tweeted, saying that both the countries are keen to work jointly to realise the full potential of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“Had a very fruitful discussion with the Defence Minister of Australia, Mr Peter Dutton on the bilateral defence cooperation as well as regional issues. Both of us are keen to work jointly to realize the full potential of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Singh tweeted.
The discussion on the overall defence cooperation with Australia took place even as both sides conducted ‘AUSINDEX’, a bilateral maritime exercise which concluded on Friday. The exercise included complex surface, sub-surface and air operations involving ships, submarines and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of India and Australia. Australia joined the Malabar Exercise in 2020 and Canberra is keen that India join its biggest war games ‘Exercise Talisman Sabre’ in 2023.
During Friday’s bilateral talks, Mr Singh invited Australian industry to take advantage of India’s liberalised FDI policies. Both the ministers agreed on “co-development and co-production” of critical components. “India’s leadership is essential to Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy. We share one of the world’s important oceans. We both want a stable, resilient, secure and strategic neighbourhood,” Mr Dutton said obliquely referring to the Beijing’s influence over the South China Sea that is of crucial importance for Australia.
India is set to host the first-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Australia on September 11. Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton from the Australian side will meet with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
India has 2+2 Ministerial format meetings with very few countries, including the USA and Japan. A similar decision was taken for Russia but no dates have been announced yet.
Tags: #RajnathSingh #PeterDutton #IndiaAustralia
