Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is set to visit India to co-chair the second India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 19-20. The visit is primarily for this dialogue, which will focus on boosting overall defense and strategic ties between the two countries. Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are expected to attend the cricket World Cup final between India and Australia, showcasing the strong bonds between the two nations.
According to the defense ministry, the inaugural “2+2” ministerial dialogue took place in September 2021, and this upcoming meeting is expected to further bolster the collaboration and bilateral defense cooperation. Both countries are pursuing a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the visit of Minister Marles expected to enhance this collaboration. The two sides are also expected to discuss wide-ranging issues of mutual interest during the 2+2 dialogue and the bilateral defense ministers’ meeting.
India and Australia are part of the Quad coalition, along with the United States and Japan, which focuses on ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The situation in West Asia due to the Hamas-Israel conflict, China’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific, and other regional security issues are also expected to be on the agenda for the talks.
The defense and strategic ties between India and Australia have been on the rise in recent years, with both countries elevating their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in June 2020. A landmark Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was signed, allowing the militaries of both countries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, further strengthening their defense cooperation.
Marles’ visit is expected to give further impetus to the collaboration and defense cooperation. The Indian delegation, led by Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, will hold a bilateral meeting with Minister Marles on November 20, following the 2+2 dialogue. The visit is set to reinforce the strong bilateral ties between India and Australia and promote cooperation in defense and strategic matters.
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