Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles began his visit to India not with photo ops or festive speeches, but with a serious conversation. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on a red carpet in New Delhi on 4 June, the two leaders reviewed what both described as a growing and “fruitful” defence partnership—one that has quietly become central to the broader Australia–India relationship.
From maritime security to joint military exercises, cyber cooperation to defence industry collaboration, the partnership now extends far beyond the usual strategic jargon. Singh publicly praised Marles for his personal commitment and steady leadership, describing bilateral defence cooperation as a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), now in its fifth year.
The two ministers reaffirmed their countries’ shared position on regional stability and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. Australia’s unequivocal support for India’s response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam was raised more than once, including by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, who noted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had reached out to Prime Minister Modi despite being in the middle of a domestic election campaign. The gesture clearly didn’t go unnoticed.
Rajnath Singh, hosting Marles for the bilateral defence talks, underlined the “full range” of military cooperation now underway—highlighting joint maritime operations and integrated military training as points of strength. The welcome included a Tri-Service Guard of Honour, setting the tone for a day that mixed symbolism with substance.
Later that evening, the mood shifted slightly, though the message remained firm. At an event hosted at the Australian High Commission in Delhi to mark five years of the CSP, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar joined Marles in addressing a room full of diplomats and dignitaries. “It’s good to see you back in Delhi,” Jaishankar began, welcoming Marles with a handshake and a smile.
Looking back over the past decade, Jaishankar reflected on just how much the relationship had changed. “A decade ago, if I had stood here and told you all that Australia would be among our strongest security partners… you wouldn’t have believed me,” he said. “And yet, here we are.”
That progress, he argued, wasn’t accidental. It was built on what both nations now call “mateship”—or “dosti”—and on shared values of democracy, mutual respect, and the rule of law. The CSP, Jaishankar said, had become more than a framework—it was now a working relationship with institutional depth. Annual summits, 2+2 ministerial dialogues, education agreements, and skill development pathways are no longer aspirations but active mechanisms.
Education, energy, and migration all got a mention. The two countries have finalised mutual recognition of qualifications, are facilitating easier student and worker mobility, and have inked agreements in energy and critical minerals. Australia’s MATES program and India’s Work and Holiday visa scheme have given shape to previously bureaucratic processes. And Deakin University has already set up operations in India—a first of its kind.
Still, the real bridge, both leaders agreed, is the growing Indian-Australian community—now over a million strong—who make the relationship tangible in ways policy never can.
And if all this sounds like serious statecraft, it is. But there was still room for a bit of levity. Before the official meetings, Marles began his morning with a jog through Nehru Park followed by a quiet cup of chai at Malcha Marg. Later, in a moment that captured the warmth of the visit, he was seen riding an auto-rickshaw alongside Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, both clad in Wallabies gold and grinning at the Delhi streetscape around them.
These images weren’t staged for diplomacy—they reflected it. A visit pegged to hard security delivered a softer message too: relationships, even strategic ones, move on wheels of goodwill.
Jaishankar’s parting words perhaps summed it up best. “These have been five great years in our ties. Many more to come. Richard, good to see you back. Keep coming.”
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