What happened
On October 9, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Canberra as part of his official visit to Australia, aimed at enhancing defence and strategic cooperation. At the Royal Australian Air Force Base, he was received by Peter Khalil, Australia’s Assistant Minister of Defence, and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations. A “Welcome to Country smoke” ceremony was also held at the Australian Parliament to acknowledge traditional land ownership and involve Aboriginal Australians in the event.
Why it matters to India
The visit includes high-level meetings with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Key agreements, including a MoU on submarine search and rescue, Terms of Reference for Joint Staff Talks, and arrangements on defence intelligence sharing, are expected to be signed. The engagement underscores India and Australia’s shared commitment to regional security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, and aims to deepen strategic and defence collaboration between the two nations.