India and Australia Sign Landmark Deals on Nuclear Energy, Maritime Security, and Critical Minerals
India and Australia on Thursday sealed a series of landmark agreements covering civil nuclear energy, maritime security, and critical minerals, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese underscored the importance of their partnership for a peaceful Indo-Pacific region.
The civil nuclear energy agreement facilitates the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India for nuclear power projects, nearly 12 years after the two countries signed a historic civil nuclear cooperation pact.
In another significant move, both nations agreed to expedite negotiations on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and a bilateral investment protection framework.
A total of 18 pacts were signed following summit talks, including a joint declaration on defence and security cooperation, a maritime security collaboration roadmap, a joint statement on energy security, and a partnership for cyber, critical technologies, and supply chains.
Prime Minister Modi described the outcomes as 'unparalleled,' particularly in renewable energy, climate action, nuclear energy, critical minerals, technology, and education.
Among the agreements was one between the Indian Coast Guard and the Maritime Border Command of Australia, focusing on maritime law enforcement, domain awareness, and border protection. The two sides also pledged to cooperate in shipbuilding, ship repair, and maintenance.
Mr. Modi arrived in Australia from Indonesia on the second leg of a three-nation tour aimed at boosting trade, energy, and defence ties amid a fractured geopolitical environment.
Under the energy security framework, India and Australia committed to strengthening energy security by ensuring a stable, secure, and reliable supply of coal, diesel, other liquid fuels, and natural gas.
The maritime security roadmap provides for long-term defence and security collaboration, including co-development of military hardware and building supply chain resilience. It also aims to enhance interoperability and information sharing between defence forces and expand aircraft deployments from each other's territories.
'Today, we have signed an important agreement in the field of nuclear energy. This will open the way for uranium supplies from Australia to India and give new impetus to our clean energy objectives,' Mr. Modi said in a media statement.
'Our cooperation in critical minerals is vital to our strategic security and clean energy transition. With this in mind, today we have launched the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies, and Supply Chains,' he added.
The Prime Minister also announced a critical minerals corridor and highlighted growing defence engagement, emphasising the importance of a free and stable Indo-Pacific. The new defence initiatives come amid concerns over China's military assertiveness in the region.
'The Indo-Pacific is not just the confluence of two oceans. It also symbolises the shared aspirations of like-minded democracies like India and Australia,' Mr. Modi said.
