Enhancing the Australia-India Defence relationship

This paper contends that India is re-emerging as a major regional power. Its greater influence and security responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific region have led Australia to seek ways to enhance its defence relationship with India. While noting that positive outcomes are already being achieved as a result of improving maritime security cooperation between the Australian and Indian navies, the paper proposes several policy initiatives that would contribute further to the enhancement of the defence relationship between the two countries.

It firstly analyses the changing strategic environment within the Indo-Pacific region in order to better understand the implications for the Australia-India defence relationship. It then identifies the converging security interests of Australia and India, as well as the constraints that may inhibit further development of the relationship. It then provides policy recommendations to strengthen and enhance defence cooperation, emphasising congruence and common security priorities, including improved military-to-military counter-terrorism cooperation. It concludes, however, that Australia will need to demonstrate patience in developing this relationship, citing the model of Australia's defence relationship with Indonesia.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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