India and Australia unveil new defence declaration to deepen Indo-Pacific cooperation

Published Jul 9, 06:59 AM UTC

On July 9, 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese adopted a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation in Melbourne. The agreement aims to significantly deepen military engagement, enhance defence industrial collaboration, and expand maritime security cooperation amid growing geostrategic uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific. Key provisions include regular consultations on regional defence developments, increased complexity of bilateral and multilateral military exercises, improved interoperability and information sharing, expanded aircraft deployments from each other's territories, and deeper personnel exchanges through education and training. The two countries also agreed to implement an India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to strengthen coordination across the Indian Ocean and wider Indo-Pacific. The declaration builds upon the 2009 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and complements existing institutional mechanisms such as the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific based on international law and UNCLOS.