India and Australia are significantly boosting their security and defence cooperation, driven by shared concerns over China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic alignment also considers the potential for unpredictable US policies, according to a recent report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his July 2026 visit to Australia, signed a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. Beyond this, they agreed on a classified maritime security collaboration roadmap and the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), which includes a defence component. An MoU is also set to formalise cooperation between Australia's Maritime Border Command and the Indian Coast Guard.
The two nations have expanded their military engagement, participating in numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises. This collaboration now covers intelligence sharing, professional education, training, hydrography, and logistics. These efforts have facilitated Australian naval operations in the Middle East and Indian military activities in the South Pacific, extending to sensitive areas like anti-submarine warfare and air-to-air refuelling. Recently, the 5th edition of the joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND 2026, concluded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, focusing on interoperability and regional security.
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