New Delhi, Sep 10 (FN Bureau) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton who is visiting India, and held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral defence cooperation as well as regional issues, the Defence Ministry said. Rajnath Singh, speaking after the meeting, said the discussions were ‘fruitful’ and both nations are keen to work jointly to realise the full potential of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. “India is committed to building a robust partnership with Australia for security and growth of the entire region. I look forward to working with you, Excellency, to take the India Australia defence partnership to greater heights,” Singh said. “This partnership is based on our shared vision of free, open, inclusive and rule-based Indo-Pacific region. Both, Australia and India have tremendous stakes in peace, development and free flow of trade, rules-based order and economic growth in the region,” Rajnath Singh said.
The Minister said the discussions focused on bilateral defence cooperation and expanding military engagements across Services, enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging defence technologies and mutual logistics support. Both sides noted with happiness that Australia joined the Malabar Exercise in 2020. India also expressed satisfaction in the continued participation of Australia in Malabar Exercise this year. Malabar began as an Indo-US exercise in 1992, and was expanded in 2007 with the participation of Japan, Singapore and Australia. Japan became a permanent partner in 2015. Australia participated in the exercise again in 2020, and this year as well.
The first phase of the exercise that has all QUAD countries was held in August 2021 in the Philippine Sea. Singh added that he apprised Minister Dutton about India’s efforts for “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) and growing innovation ecosystem in India. “We discussed opportunities to work together in Defence Science and Technology areas.” Singh also invited Australian industry to take advantage of India’s liberalised foreign direct investment policies in the defence sector and both agreed that there are opportunities for bilateral collaboration for co-development and co production. Dutton, along with the Foreign Minister of Australia Marise Payne arrived in India on Friday. On Saturday, the two sides will hold inaugural bilateral two plus two ministerial dialogue. Singh along with External Affairs Minister S. jaishankar will hold the dialogue. The visit comes in the backdrop of Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. The Defence Minister had earlier said the QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between India, US, Japan and Australia, is one of the strategic measures taken by India in the changing global security scenario. India has similar two plus two frameworks of talks with select nations including the US and Japan.