Prime Minister Anthony Albanese aboard the INS VikrantCredit:Alex Ellinghausen
“We compete with India to be the best of the world,” he said of the cricket. “But we’re working together off the field for a better world.”
The cricket diplomacy gave way to the security agenda when Albanese travelled to Mumbai later in the day and toured the Indian aircraft carrier,INS Vikrant.
Albanese was the first national leader outside India to tour the carrier.
With Indian defence personnel around him,Albanese announced that Australia will host military operations with India,Japan and the US in the “Malabar” exercises off the coast of Perth in August.
Australia has also invited India to join the Talisman Sabre exercises later this year,a major operation for the Australian Defence Force.
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“It will be a great privilege to welcome India’s Navy to Australia in August and I thank them again for hosting me here today,” he said.
The commitment to more defence cooperation comes without a formal alliance or security pact but is far deeper than any defence cooperation in the past.
Modi will visit Australia before June 30 to attend the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in Sydney with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida,forming a group often criticised by China.
“What lifts defence relationships to new levels is the resolve and foresight of those who see the relationship not only for what it is,but what it could be,” Albanese said on the aircraft carrier.
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“Prime Minister Modi is one such person. I’d like to thank him today – not only for his kind invitation for me to visit this landmark capability,but for his dedication in driving forward our defence and security partnership.
“A partnership that is of increasing strategic importance as we navigate the challenges of our region together.
“For Australia,India is a top-tier security partner. The Indian Ocean is central to both countries’ security and prosperity.
“And there has never been a point in both of our country’s histories where we’ve had such a strong strategic alignment.
“We both depend on free and open access to sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific for our trade and economic wellbeing.
Albanese was greeted on Wednesday night with a shower of flower petals at a Holi celebration.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“And we share an unwavering commitment to upholding the rules-based international order and ensuring the Indo-Pacific is open,inclusive and prosperous.”
Albanese has used his public remarks at several events to emphasise India’s status as the fifth-largest economy in the world and the biggest nation by population.
Behind the scenes,Australian officials want the visit to secure a commitment from Modi to accelerate progress on an expanded trade deal to boost $24 billion in annual Australian exports and allow more investment between the two countries.
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India has long objected to free-trade deals in order to protect its farmers and manufacturers,but it appears willing to move faster on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Australia.
“Everyone knows that better India-Australia trade is a massive opportunity but for too long our economic relationship has been underdone,” said Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott.
“The prime minister’s decision to make this critical visit happen is hugely significant.”
The economic agenda supports a strategic goal to deepen ties with India at every level — education,resources,renewable energy — and tighten links on regional security.
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With Indian forces in conflict with Chinese soldiers along their shared border,Modi has expanded defence links with the US while maintaining the rhetoric of being a non-aligned nation.
Modi has joined the “Quad” group with the US,Japan and Australia invited Australia to join the Malabar naval exercises with the same countries,a contrast with the Indian policy in 2017 when it chose not to invite Australia out of concern at Chinese objections to the group.
While Modi has avoided a breach with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine and relies on Russia for oil and armaments,India argued at a G20 foreign ministers meeting this month for a joint communique with the US,Australia and others. The effect was to isolate China and Russia on the issue of Ukraine.