India and Australia Deepen Defense Ties Amid China's Assertiveness and Evolving U.S. Policy
India and Australia are significantly strengthening their security and defense cooperation, driven by mutual concerns over China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and the potential for shifts in U.S. policy. This strategic alignment was highlighted during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's July 2026 visit to Australia, where he and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation. Key initiatives include a classified maritime security collaboration roadmap and the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), which features a dedicated defense pillar. Additionally, both nations plan to formalize cooperation between Australia's Maritime Border Command and the Indian Coast Guard through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This follows an earlier agreement between their defense ministers to work towards an MoU on the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services. The relationship has als...
