India and Australia cement top‑tier defence partnership

Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green said India has become a “top‑tier defence and security partner” for Australia, underscoring the strategic convergence highlighted in the joint declaration adopted at the third India‑Australia Annual Summit following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July visit. He pointed to maritime cooperation as the most significant defence domain and announced the completion of the administrative framework needed to operationalise Australian uranium exports to India, ending a 12‑year waiting period. Green also noted expanded collaboration under the Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), focusing on emerging technologies such as AI. In a separate briefing, Green described the Quad as being “in extremely good shape,” citing strong alignment and trust among the four members and expecting additional foreign‑minister meetings this year. He stressed India’s growing importance to Australia’s economic security strategy, particularly for resilient supply chains and energy security.