Modi's Australia visit yields defense pact, civil nuclear deal

Published Jul 14, 01:56 PM UTC

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to Australia resulted in significant defense and security outcomes, including a Joint Declaration on Defense that emphasizes interoperability, information sharing, and regional security. The article analyzes how Australia and India are forming new minilateral coalitions with partners like Indonesia and New Zealand to maximize strategic options amid unease about reliance on the United States to counter China. Key outcomes include an 'alliance-like' consultation commitment on Indo-Pacific defense developments, and a civil nuclear energy deal involving uranium sales to India, overcoming past NPT-related hurdles. The analysis argues that Indo-Pacific partners must present a unified front against China's trade coercion, moving beyond bilateral dealings to multilateral deterrence.