India & Australia Sign Uranium Pact To Strengthen Defense And Maritime Ties

During the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit, PM Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expanded their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing 18 major outcomes.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that these agreements adapt bilateral ties to evolving geostrategic realities.

The new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC) expands the 2009 pact, while the Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap (MSCR) boosts info-sharing and capability building.

An MoU was signed between India’s Coast Guard and Australia’s Maritime Border Command.

Key initiatives include establishing an Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, increasing the complexity of drills under the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement, reciprocal aircraft deployments, and posting an Indian instructor to the Australian Defence College.

Both nations also committed to a rules-based order, sovereignty, and UNCLOS freedom of navigation, opposing coercion alongside Quad partners (US, Japan), ASEAN, IORA, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

The PACTS framework will cover cyber, critical technologies, and resilient supply chains, while HADR coordination will utilize the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network.

The civil nuclear agreement was operationalized to enable Australian uranium exports to India, alongside a new energy security partnership.

Both countries also decided on mining partnerships, research collaborations, cultural exchanges, and establishing Australian university campuses in India.

PM Modi stated on X that these future-focused outcomes reflect deep mutual confidence and a shared blueprint for regional prosperity.