Australia India Defence Conclave

I want to begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the Australian Capital Territory, and recognise Elders past, present and emerging.

It’s a pleasure to join you for the Australia India Defence Conclave and speak to pre-eminent minds in the Australia-India relationship 

I want to give a shout out to my former colleague Lisa Singh from The Australia India Institute, it’s becoming a habit for me to single you out at these events, thank you for inviting me to speak, and for your work in strengthening the relationship between our two nations. 

Distinguished guests, friends all,

It is fitting that representatives from the world’s largest democracy are meeting with us in the heart of Australian democracy. 

In my view, it is our shared democratic values that form one of the key pillars of our relationship. 

As we are seeing around the world, democracy is not a default, and it must be protected. 

A relationship that continues to go from strength to strength, across all dimensions – cultural, economic, and security. 

Our two nations have never been closer.  

Today, we welcome India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, to Canberra. 

The first visit to Australia by an Indian Defence Minister in twelve years, signalling even greater connectedness and cooperation in our defence partnership.

During today’s Conclave, we will discuss how we can grow our defence partnership, firm in the foundation of a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and safe Indo-Pacific region. 

In my view, this relationship has the potential to grow exponentially. 

Together, we have achieved a series of ‘firsts’:

• the first Indian participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre this year;
• India’s first Air-to-Air Refuelling Implementing Arrangement;
• And today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Singh will discuss enhancing maritime security cooperation, increasing consultation, and building cooperation on joint activities. Natural next steps with one of our top-tier security partners. 

These agreements are comprehensive, and go beyond traditional defence cooperation. 

Our Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement enables us to provide humanitarian assistance during disasters… 

…As well as facilitating complex military exercises, and building collective deterrence. 

As the guardians of either side of the mighty Indian Ocean, we are aware of our responsibility to keeping this region stable and trade lines open.

India is the great power of the Indian Ocean, and this century belongs to this region. 

And we share a common vision for a region in which territorial integrity is respected and our ability to trade with each other is protected. 

A region in which no country dominates and no country is dominated.

Our defence cooperation delivers practical effects to uphold Indo-Pacific stability.

We want to renew and strengthen our Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation.

And we want to formalise our cooperation on the high seas. 

We are both nations ambitious for our own futures, but also for our partners and our region.

Working together will only help expand each other’s autonomy, options, and capabilities.

One key element of the relationship between India and Australia has always been our mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.

Our two countries have historically enjoyed significant and successful collaboration in research, innovation and manufacturing and industry, which has allowed our economies to grow stronger together. 

This foundation stone of mutual cooperation presents us now with a crucial opportunity - to strengthen our collective industrial base in the area of Defence.

India has made impressive strides in accelerating its sovereign defence manufacturing. Australia is seeking to do the same. 

Our shared strategic objectives will be well served by deepening our work together – complementary economies of scale, building connections between our private players, facilitating more integrated global supply chains, and in a relationship of trust, creating a fertile enabling environment for defence industry scale-up.

I am very pleased that Australia’s first defence trade mission to India is taking place as we speak – as we deepen ties across our defence industry sectors, sharing technology, knowledge and building our science and technology partnerships.   

Just in the last 10 years we have more than tripled our annual defence exercises, meetings, and activities. 

Imagine what we can achieve in the next decade together. 

Now is the time for us to set ambitious targets for our future relationship…

… a relationship strengthened by a strong diaspora in Australia, that networks our peoples together through the bonds of family, relationships…

…and on Sunday, a healthy rivalry with our Women’s cricket teams playing each other at the ICC World Cup.

Let us build on our dosti; our foundation of trust and friendship.

I encourage you all to use this time to lay the foundations for the next stage of our partnership, looking to the future and our joint potential. 

Enjoy the conclave, best of luck with the discussions, and thank you for your time.