India, Australia to Formalise Defence Supplies Pact

India and Australia have agreed to begin developing a formal pact on defence supplies and services, marking a significant step in deepening their strategic partnership during high-level talks in New Delhi on Monday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles co-chaired the second India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, reviewing progress since their inaugural meeting in October 2025 and outlining an ambitious roadmap for enhanced cooperation.

The proposed Memorandum of Understanding concerning the provision of defence articles and services is intended to provide a framework for closer defence industrial collaboration, including potential work in manufacturing, sustainment, and supply chains. Both ministers welcomed Australia’s first defence trade mission to India and a related industry roundtable held last October as important milestones in this expanding relationship.

Maritime security was a central focus of the discussions. The two sides agreed to progress collaborative maritime domain awareness activities through maritime patrol aircraft operations and to explore opportunities to enhance undersea domain...