Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles will co-chair the second India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi on Monday, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the dialogue will review progress made in defence ties since the inaugural meeting held in Australia in October 2025 and identify new avenues for collaboration between the two countries.
The discussions are expected to centre on enhancing defence and security cooperation, improving military interoperability, expanding defence industry collaboration, and exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production. Regional and global security developments of mutual interest, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, are also expected to feature prominently in the talks.
The ministry said the meeting would further strengthen bilateral defence relations, deepen strategic trust, and contribute to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
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The visit of Marles comes amid growing momentum in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Australia is regarded as a key partner in India’s vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and the latest dialogue is expected to underscore the increasing depth and maturity of defence ties between the two nations.
The inaugural Australia-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held in October 2025 during Rajnath Singh’s visit to Australia. The two sides had then noted significant progress in defence cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the long-term vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held bilateral discussions with Onno Eichelsheim on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday. The talks focused on enhancing defence cooperation through military exchange programmes and bilateral training initiatives, reflecting India’s broader efforts to deepen defence engagement with strategic partners.
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