Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles will co-chair the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in New Delhi on June 1, as the two countries seek to further deepen strategic and military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the dialogue will review progress in bilateral defence cooperation since the inaugural meeting in Australia in October 2025 and explore new avenues for collaboration.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening defence and security ties, enhancing military interoperability, expanding defence industry engagement, including co-development and co-production opportunities, and reviewing regional and global security developments of mutual interest.
Also Read: Australia, India deepen strategic defence partnership at 10th Defence Policy Talks
The meeting comes against the backdrop of rapidly expanding defence engagement between the two countries. Earlier this month, India and Australia held the 10th Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed progress across defence cooperation and discussed new initiatives aimed at boosting interoperability, maritime security cooperation and defence industry partnerships.
Officials from both countries welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral defence ties, noting that the establishment of the annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue in 2025 had strengthened strategic consultations and reflected rising trust between New Delhi and Canberra.
The two sides have also broadened military engagement through increasingly complex joint exercises and operational cooperation. India participated for the first time in Australia's Exercise Talisman Sabre and Exercise Puk Puk in 2025, while maritime cooperation has expanded through mutual participation in fleet reviews and multilateral naval exercises such as Milan and Kakadu.
Defence industrial collaboration has emerged as another key pillar of the partnership. Both countries have launched dedicated industry engagement platforms, including the inaugural Australia-India Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney in 2025 and a defence industry strategic roundtable held during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi earlier this year.
Australia is regarded as a key partner in India's vision for a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Officials said Monday's dialogue is expected to further strengthen strategic trust, advance defence cooperation across domains and identify new areas of collaboration under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
