10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks Held in New Delhi

The 10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Australian side was led by First Assistant Secretary, International Policy, Bernard Philip. The talks covered bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security, training exchanges, and defence industry collaboration.

India-Australia Defence Cooperation Framework

The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, and defence cooperation is one of its major pillars. The annual India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue began in 2025. The Defence Policy Talks are part of the institutional mechanism for consultation between the two countries.

Key Outcomes and Implementation Mechanisms

Both sides reviewed the implementation of outcomes from the 2024 India-Australian Annual Leaders’ Summit. They discussed renewal of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and the development of a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. The two sides also finalised key implementing arrangements and planned the first India-Australia Joint Staff Talks later in 2026.

Training Exchanges and Defence Industry Links

The discussions included the Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme. They also covered exchanges between the Indian Military Academy and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Defence industry cooperation included the first India-Australia Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney in 2025, Australia’s first defence trade mission to India in 2025, and the defence industry strategic roundtable at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• India and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.
• The India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit was held in 2024.
• The Royal Military College, Duntroon, is located in Canberra, Australia.
• The Indian Military Academy is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Regional Security Context

India and Australia are both maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific region. Defence cooperation between the two countries includes naval engagement, military training, and defence industry interaction.