India, Australia agree to deepen bilateral Defence Partnership
India and Australia have agreed to deepen their bilateral defence partnership based on their shared strategic interests by setting up of a joint working group on defence research and material cooperation.
This decision was taken after the delegation-level talks between Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting Australian counterpart Kevin Andrews in New Delhi.
Both sides also decided
- Focus on maritime security ties in the Indian Ocean region and acknowledged the importance of freedom of maritime navigation.
- First-ever bilateral Maritime exercise AUSINDEX between both countries is scheduled to be held in September 2015.
- Agreed that maritime security should remain a key component of the bilateral defence relationship between both countries.
- India will take part in the first ever air exercise with Australia.
- Implement the action plan outlined in the Framework for Security Cooperation (FSC) which was agreed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and his counterpart Tony Abbott in November 2014.
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Month: Current Affairs - September, 2015