Sydney, Oct 8 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sydney on Wednesday for a two-day official visit to Australia. He was received by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay upon arrival. The visit comes at a significant moment as India and Australia celebrate five years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Invited by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Singh’s visit marks the first official trip by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since 2014.
During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart to deepen cooperation in defence and security. He will also chair a business roundtable in Sydney, bringing together industry leaders from both countries to explore new avenues of collaboration. Meetings with other senior Australian leaders are also scheduled.
Ahead of his departure, Singh posted on X, expressing optimism about the visit: “Looking forward to continuing our dialogue and exploring ideas for cooperation between both countries. This visit comes at a historic moment as we commemorate five years of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
According to a Defence Ministry statement, the visit will provide an opportunity to enhance collaboration in key sectors, including maritime security and information sharing. Three agreements are expected to be signed, focusing on information exchange, maritime cooperation, and joint defence activities.
Defence ties between India and Australia have steadily strengthened, encompassing joint exercises, capacity-building, high-level visits, and military exchanges. The partnership, elevated from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, reflects shared democratic values, economic engagement, and strong people-to-people ties.
Marles had visited India in June, reaffirming both nations’ shared commitment to regional stability and their resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms.
