Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised that India and Australia are natural partners in defence and innovation, calling for deeper industrial collaboration to build advanced and interoperable systems. Speaking at the India-Australia Defence Industry Round Table in Sydney, which he co-chaired with Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil MP, Defence Minister Singh said the bilateral relationship has transformed from a long-standing friendship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership rooted in democracy, good governance, and mutual trust.

India at the Centre of Defence Growth

Defence Minister Singh noted that India’s rapid economic rise and its strengths in software, advanced manufacturing, and technology complement Australia’s innovation and research capabilities. He said this synergy makes the partnership both strategically vital and economically beneficial.

Extending an open invitation, Defence Minister Singh urged Australian companies to partner with Indian defence enterprises to co-develop and co-produce high-end technologies. These include propulsion systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, flight simulators, and advanced materials. Such ventures, he said, would not only strengthen both countries’ defence capabilities but also contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through joint innovation.

Defence Minister Singh recalled that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, formalised in 2020, has gained strength through regular high-level engagements such as the India-Australia Summit in November 2024, the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, and reciprocal visits by defence leaders. He said the cooperation rests on three central pillars – robust government-to-government engagement, deep people-to-people ties, and dynamic industrial partnerships.

Defence Reforms Driving Global Partnerships

Highlighting India’s defence sector reforms, Defence Minister Singh said initiatives like Make in India, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and liberalised FDI norms allowing up to 74 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route have created an attractive environment for global collaboration.

He pointed out that India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy. In 2023-24, India’s defence production rose to ₹1.51 lakh crore (USD 18 billion), a growth of 18 per cent from the previous year, with exports touching a record ₹23,600 crore (USD 2.7 billion). Defence Minister Singh said these achievements demonstrate India’s emergence as a global defence manufacturing hub ready for international partnerships.

He stressed that India’s industrial base, skilled talent pool, and policy stability make it an ideal destination for co-development ventures. He invited Australian innovators and manufacturers to collaborate with Indian firms and research institutions, tapping into the expanding market and creating world-class interoperable systems.

Strengthening a Trusted Partnership

Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil recognised India as a “trusted and indispensable partner,” aligning with Defence Minister Singh’s vision. He said the round table was part of Australia’s strategic roadmap to boost economic, technological, and security engagement with India.

Khalil highlighted the significance of India’s participation in joint military exercises, which demonstrate growing strategic convergence. He said the first Defence Industry Trade Mission to India and the Sydney round table would act as catalysts for greater industrial and innovation-led defence cooperation.

The high-level meeting was attended by India’s High Commissioner to Australia Gopal Baglay, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan of the Indian Navy, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit of the Indian Air Force, along with senior officials and industry representatives from both sides.

Defence Minister Singh’s leadership at the Sydney talks has reinforced India’s position as a vital player in the Indo-Pacific security architecture, while setting the stage for future growth in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through shared values, trust, and industrial collaboration.

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