India and Australia on Friday reaffirmed their strong maritime partnership and discussed further strengthening cooperation and engagement between their navies.
The discussions took place during a meeting between India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, and Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Matthew Paul Buckley AM CSC RAN. It was the first meeting between the two officials since Buckley assumed leadership of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on July 7, succeeding Vice Admiral Mark Hammond.
The Indian High Commission in Australia said on X that Singh paid a courtesy call on Buckley following his appointment as Chief of Navy.
“The meeting reaffirmed the strong India-Australia maritime partnership and discussed further strengthening cooperation and engagement between the Indian Navy and Australian Navy,” the High Commission said.
The meeting follows the 17th Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks between the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, held in Sydney on August 11 and 12.
The talks focused on strengthening operational interoperability, increasing the complexity of bilateral exercises and expanding cooperation in capability building and training. The discussions were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Sachin Reuben Sequeira, ACNS (FCI), of the Indian Navy and Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, Commander Australian Fleet.
According to the Indian Navy, the staff talks reaffirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to developing a stronger and more interoperable maritime partnership.
The latest engagement also comes after India’s participation in Exercise Pitch Black 26, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Darwin from July 20 to August 7.
The Indian Air Force contingent included pilots, engineers, technicians, controllers and other specialists who took part in the multinational air combat exercise.
Pitch Black is held biennially by the Royal Australian Air Force and brings together participating countries for complex air combat training and operational cooperation. According to Australia’s Department of Defence, this year’s exercise involved more than 2,500 personnel and 100 aircraft from 21 partner nations.
The recent naval and air force engagements reflect the broader defence relationship between India and Australia, with both countries continuing to expand practical cooperation through exercises, professional exchanges, training and capability development.
The meeting between Singh and Buckley provides another senior-level channel for discussions on maritime cooperation as the two navies continue to develop their operational engagement.
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