India, Australia Finalise Uranium, Defence and Investment Deals

India and Australia finalised an administrative arrangement on 9 July 2026 to operationalise the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. The arrangement allows Australia to export uranium to India for civilian nuclear energy programmes.

Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

The 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement provides a legal framework for uranium trade between the two countries. Uranium supplied under this arrangement is intended for peaceful uses in nuclear power generation and related civilian applications. India has set a target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity by 2047. Nuclear fuel supply is one component of India’s long-term energy planning, alongside solar, wind, and other low-carbon sources.

Defence and Security Cooperation

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese adopted a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation on 9 July 2026. The declaration covers military engagement, defence industrial collaboration, and maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two countries also agreed to implement a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. The roadmap includes maritime domain awareness, information sharing, and operational coordination across the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Critical Minerals and Defence Innovation

India and Australia announced an India-Australia Critical Minerals Corridor on 9 July 2026. Critical minerals are inputs used in batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics, and defence manufacturing. The two sides also unveiled an India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor. Defence innovation corridors are institutional mechanisms for cooperation in technology development, research, and industrial partnerships.

Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation

AustralianSuper announced an investment of AU500 million during the visit. Discussions covered critical minerals, green hydrogen, clean manufacturing, aviation, transport, financial services, and food processing. India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. The bilateral Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement entered into force in 2022. Bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Australia was valued at US33.93 billion in 2025. India and Australia are members of the Indo-Pacific regional economic and security architecture.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2015.
• The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement between India and Australia entered into force in 2022.
• Critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements.
• The Indo-Pacific covers the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean.