What happened?
On August 12, 2025, India and Australia held a bilateral dialogue in New Delhi focusing on disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and outer space security. The discussions took place under the framework of the India-Australia Dialogue on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Export Control. The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including nuclear, chemical, and biological disarmament and non-proliferation; outer space security; conventional weapons; the role of artificial intelligence in the military domain; and cooperation within multilateral export control regimes. The dialogue aimed to foster enhanced mutual understanding of national perspectives and evolving global dynamics on these issues.
Why it matters to India
The dialogue provides a platform for India to engage in substantive discussions on global disarmament and non-proliferation issues, while promoting the peaceful use of emerging technologies, including outer space and AI in defence. As strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific, cooperation with Australia on these fronts supports India’s broader objectives of maintaining regional stability, strengthening multilateral export control frameworks, and shaping responsible norms around emerging security domains. Engaging in such high-level consultations also enables India to partner with nations on international security challenges and policy coordination