Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently had a long conversation at Hyderabad House, during which they expressed mutual consent on several issues. PM Modi also raised the issue of attacks on Hindu temples in Australia, stating that it worried people in India. He discussed this matter with Albanese, who assured him that the safety of Indians in Australia is of paramount importance to his government.
PM Modi also emphasized that security cooperation is an essential pillar of their strategy, and they will increase mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They have made remarkable agreements in the field of defense in the past few years, including logistics support for each other’s armies, regular and useful exchange of information between their security agencies, and ways to strengthen it further.
Apart from defense, the two leaders discussed mutual cooperation to develop reliable and robust global supply chains, clean hydrogen, and solar. They signed agreements on education, energy, defense, and trade.
Albanese praised India, stating that Australia and India are good friends and partners, and they are strengthening their relationship every day. After meeting Albanese, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted that his visit and today’s annual summit will take their relations to a higher level.
Albanese also visited India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in Mumbai, becoming the first foreign Prime Minister to do so. The Indian Navy gave him a guard of honor, and he sat in the cockpit of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) on INS Vikrant. The Australian PM stated that India is their top security partner, and they both depend on free and open access to sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific for their trade and economic well-being. They share an unwavering commitment to upholding the rules-based international order and ensuring an open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Albanese thanked PM Modi for his dedication to taking forward the defense and security partnership, stating that it takes defense ties to new levels. The resolve and foresight of those who see the relationship not only for what it is but also for what it could be. One such person is his friend, PM Modi.
In conclusion, the meeting between PM Modi and Albanese covered several essential topics, including defense, trade, and energy, and they signed agreements on education, energy, defense, and trade. The two leaders emphasized their commitment to strengthening their relationship and upholding the rules-based international order.