DELHI - BY MIDDLE EAST INSIDER - Oct 17,2023

The Indo-Pacific region is facing increasing uncertainty due to the growing challenge posed by China. During a recent visit to India, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited INS Vikrant, India's newest aircraft carrier, and declared a strong strategic alignment between the two countries. The visit highlights the growing importance of the maritime dimension in Indo-Pacific geopolitics, as well as the strength of India's strategic ties with Australia. Defense and security have emerged as key pillars of Indo-Australian strategic partnership. 

 

Both countries participate in the Malabar naval exercises and are deepening military-to-military exchanges. Such joint exercises build interoperability, familiarity, and trust between the countries. Military cooperation is critical in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific, as both India and Australia face the challenge of China in their respective regions.

 

In addition to defense and security, trade and economy are also key areas of cooperation. India and Australia signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) last year, which is expected to add economic muscle to their politico-military partnership. India's refusal to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) makes bilateral trade deals with Indo-Pacific countries matter. The India-Australia ECTA will build on already strong education and people-to-people links.

 

Apart from the participation in the Quad and Malabar Exercises, India and Australia are working together with other Indo-Pacific countries on a range of issues. The Quad is the most important of these minilateral frameworks, as the lack of a strong India-Australia bilateral relationship was perhaps the weakest link in the Quad. However, the strategic context has changed, and both countries are willing to partner with each other in the Indo-Pacific.

The foundation of shared values and clarity about geopolitics will ensure the strategic alignment between India and Australia. The changing geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific has managed to bridge the gap between these countries and bring them closer together.