External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the visiting Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi to deliberate on regional dynamics, the Indo-Pacific theatre, and the advancement of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The high-level meeting took place on Monday and was aimed at consolidating strategic understanding and reviewing mutual security interests across the region.

Following the interaction, Jaishankar posted on X, stating that it was a pleasure to meet Marles and that they shared assessments on regional developments, the Indo-Pacific, and further advancement of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prior to this engagement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Richard Marles jointly chaired the second India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

The dialogue explored avenues to scale up bilateral defence ties and reviewed the progress of cooperation while identifying new opportunities to further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Upon his arrival in India, Marles was accorded a Ceremonial Tri-Service Guard of Honour, reflecting the importance attached to the visit.

The Ministry of Defence highlighted that both democracies reiterated their resolve to solidify defence engagement, elevate strategic confidence, and foster peace, stability, and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Rajnath Singh shared on X that he had an excellent meeting with Marles, during which they reviewed the full range of bilateral defence cooperation and discussed ways to enhance it further. He added that the India-Australia Defence Partnership is poised to make steady progress in the years to come.

Richard Marles emphasised that the discussions focused on converting the profound strategic trust between New Delhi and Canberra into tangible military cooperation. He noted that during the second annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, he and Rajnath Singh spoke about turning deep strategic trust into practical defence cooperation.

Marles underscored that peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific rely on close collaboration with partners, and he expressed gratitude to Singh for hosting him.

The Defence Ministry further remarked that Marles’ tour of India follows the first iteration of the Dialogue hosted by Australia in October 2025, demonstrating the accelerating pace of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The ministry also stated that Australia is a key partner in India’s vision of a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The visit underscores the growing depth and maturity of the India-Australia defence partnership, which is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of regional stability and strategic convergence.

ANI