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OPINION SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

India-Australia Maritime

Cooperation: Strengthening a Robust

Partnership in the Indo-Pacific

DR. PRAGYA PANDEY

he recently held Maritime Se-
curity Dialogue further reflects
Ta greater strategic alignment
between India and Australia, with
their commitment to a transparent,
open, secure, inclusive, rules based
maritime order in the Indo-Pacific
and an effort towards fostering prac-
tical maritime cooperation.
Taking forward the 2020 Joint
Declaration on Shared Vision for
Maritime Cooperation in the In-
do-Pacific, the 6th India-Australia
Maritime Security Dialogue was
held on 13 August, 2024 in Canber-
ra, attended by senior officials from
both sides. The Indian Ministry of
External Affairs’ press release men-
tioned that, during the Dialogue the
two sides discussed ‘ways to sustain
a safe and secure maritime envi-
ronment conducive for inclusive India and Australia are close maritime partners and cooperation between the two is crucial for the larger Indo-Pacific region (ANI)
growth and global well-being’. Both
sides also shared views on issues of
mutual interest including ‘maritime 1st Annual Leaders’ Summit was Strategy (NDS). Highlighting the portunities in the Indo-Pacific. The
security in the Indo-Pacific, Mari- held in March 2023 in New Delhi importance of Australia’s partner- agreement allows both the countries
time Domain Awareness (MDA), during Prime Minister Anthony Al- ship with India in the Indo Pacific, to use each other’s strategic bases
Humanitarian Assistance and Disas- banese’s visit to India, followed by the NDS mentions that “India is a for logistics support facilities.
ter Relief (HADR) and Search and PM Modi travelling to Australia in top-tier security partner for Austra- Maritime cooperation between
Rescue (SAR), pollution response, May 2023, later the two PM’s also lia and practical and tangible coop- the two countries is a crucial aspect
blue economy and multilateral en- met when PM Albanese visited In- eration with India directly contrib- of the CSP. For both Indian and Aus-
gagement and sustainable use of dia to attend the G20 summit in New utes to the Indo-Pacific stability”. tralia, their geographical location
ocean resources. Australia and India Delhi in September 2023. Australia Australia is also one of the few inextricably links their security and
are intensifying their maritime co- has also enhanced its diplomatic countries with whom India has a prosperity to the waters surround-
operation in the Indian Ocean, the presence with the opening of new 2+2 arrangement. In pursuance of ing them. Australia, with its unique
Dialogue “presented an opportunity Consulate in Bangalore in May 2023. the CSP, India and Australia have two-ocean geography, located at the
for two sides to discuss shared pri- From the perspective of relationship instituted 2+2 format meeting, at crossroads between the Indian and
orities.” wrote the Australian High with India, there is a bipartisan com- the Foreign and Defence Ministe- Pacific Ocean, around 99% of Aus-
Commissioner to India on X. mitment in Australia. The rationale rial level since 2021. At the second tralian exports are transported via
India and Australia are close for positive upgrade in bilateral ties 2+2 Dialogue held in 2023, the two sea routes. India, with its central lo-
maritime partners and cooperation over the past decade has been the sides reiterated that “positive and cation in the Indian Ocean, its exten-
between the two is crucial for the growing convergences between the increased momentum in their coop- sive coastline and numerous islands,
larger Indo-Pacific region. Regular two sides in the backdrop of con- eration served to reinforce an open, is an important maritime player in
maritime dialogues are one of the stantly evolving geopolitical situa- inclusive, stable and prosperous In- the region. Therefore, a stable and
many mechanisms for enhancing tion in the Indo-Pacific. Today both do-Pacific”.They also acknowledged secure maritime order is a priority
maritime cooperation between the countries are collaborating not only the positive impact of the Arrange- for both the countries.
two countries. The relationship be- on bilateral security and strategic is- ment concerning Mutual Logistics In a significant development, in
tween India and Australia was up- sues but also in broader formats of Support (MLSA) signed in June August 2023, for the first time Aus-
graded to Comprehensive Strategic trilaterals and quadrilateral. 2020, in increasing interoperability tralia hosted the Malabar Exercise.
Partnership (CSP) in 2020. There Under the current Albanese between the forces of the two coun- Australia re-entered in Malabar ex-
have been frequent high level inter- government, Australia recently pub- tries, for enhancing MDA, critical to ercises with other Quad countries
actions between the two countries, lished its 2024 National Defence managing shared challenges and op- Continued on next page... >>

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