Rajnath, Marles hold talks in Canberra Forum for joint staff talks to submarine co-op: India, Australia ink 3 pacts

In an apparent reference to the Pahalgam terror attack and steps taken against Pakistan, Singh reiterated India’s stand on the threat of terrorism, stating that terror cannot go together with talks and trade and that water and blood cannot flow together.

According to a joint statement issued following the meeting, both ministers advanced their Prime Ministers’ long-term vision for collaboration to enhance collective strength, contribute to security of both countries, and make a significant contribution to regional peace and security.

“They discussed a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to advance maritime cooperation, and looked forward to Prime Ministers renewing and strengthening the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation,” the statement noted.

Both sides also committed to expand bilateral defence architecture and enhance consultation and cooperation by conducting an annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and welcomed the signing of the Australia-India Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation.

“They welcomed progress towards operationalising the Australia-India Implementing Arrangement on Air-to-Air Refuelling signed in 2024,” it said.

Both ministers welcomed the establishment of Joint Staff Talks as a forum to progress joint exercises, operations and interoperability across all domains.

The ministers appreciated the growing frequency and complexity of defence exercises and exchanges and the increasing interoperability through the implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.

The joint statement noted that both sides also agreed to pursue defence collaboration in contemporary technology, including through the Joint Working Group on Defence Industry, Research and Materiel.

“Australia thanked India for the offer of maintenance, repair and overhaul of Royal Australian Navy ships in Indian shipyards during their deployment to the Indian Ocean Region,” it added.

Both sides affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation with regional partners to help maintain a free, open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Stating that the ministers were pleased with the collaborative maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine warfare activities by Australian and Indian maritime patrol aircraft in the Indian Ocean, the joint statement noted that they also agreed to continue aircraft deployment from each other’s territories to build operational familiarity.

They also welcomed the ongoing progress in defence cooperation among Australia, India, Japan and the US, underscoring the growing strategic convergence among the partners.

Earlier in the day, Singh’s engagements included a live air-to-air refuelling demonstration onboard the KC-30A Multirole Transport and Tanker Aircraft (MRTT), refuelling an F-35 aircraft en route to Canberra.

“It showcased a demonstration of growing interoperability following last year’s Implementation Arrangement on Air-to-Air Refuelling,” the Defence Ministry statement noted.