India and Australia on Saturday began a high-level foreign and defense ministerial dialogue aimed at further enhancing their overall defense and strategic cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, amid China’s growing military assertiveness in the region.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held the inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ talks with their Australian counterparts Maris Payne and Peter Dutton here.
The in-person talks are taking place at a time when global attention has been on the situation in Afghanistan and the issue is likely to be discussed.
Singh held extensive discussions with Australian Defense Minister Dutton on Friday, ahead of Jaishankar’s ‘two-plus-two’ dialogue with Foreign Minister Payne.
In their talks, the two defense ministers discussed their “common concerns” regarding the delicate security situation in Afghanistan and the possible spread of terrorism from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The foreign and defense ministerial talks are taking place amid renewed efforts by the Quad member states to enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Apart from India and Australia, the quad includes the US and Japan.
In an address at an event organized by the Observer Research Organisation, Payne on Friday said the Quad has grown “rapidly” and very “effectively” and lauded India for playing a strong leadership role in the region.
Talking about the “significant challenges” facing the Indo-Pacific, the Australian foreign minister said Canberra seeks a region where the rights of countries large and small are respected and no “single dominant power”. does not decide the outcome for others.
The dialogue between the Foreign and Defense Ministers was established as part of an overall goal to expand strategic cooperation between the two countries.
India has such a framework for dialogue with very few countries including the US and Japan.
Defense and military cooperation between India and Australia has gained momentum over the years.
In June last year, India and Australia extended their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and achieved a historic milestone for mutual access to military bases for logistical support during an online summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. signed the agreement.
The Australian Navy was part of the recent Malabar naval exercise which also involved the navies of India, the US and Japan.
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