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Source: DD News

Context

Amid increased uncertainties in global security and China's assertiveness, India and Australia are building stronger defence relations.

Strategic Convergence and Shared Concerns

• India and Australia’s geographical and geopolitical orientations make their partnership crucial in the Indo-Pacific theatre.
  
  
• Australia, situated between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with strong ties to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, complements India’s maritime ambitions.
  
  
• Both countries share concerns over China’s assertive behaviour and uphold a mutual vision for regional sovereignty and stability.
  
  
• Over the last decade, India-Australia ties have deepened through robust bureaucratic frameworks, surpassing those with some partners like Japan or South Korea.
  
  
• Australia’s designation of India as a top-tier security partner marks this strategic evolution.
  
  
• With U.S. security commitments appearing conditional, India and Australia’s groundwork offers a base for a more autonomous, collaborative regional defence posture.
  

Opportunity in Trump’s Return

• Strategic Autonomy: Trump’s transactional foreign policy and skepticism about U.S. security guarantees create a power vacuum, encouraging India and Australia to build self-reliant regional security frameworks.
  
  
• Convergence on Threats: Shared concern over China’s assertiveness strengthens cooperation, visible in joint exercises like Malabar and AUSINDEX, enhancing maritime security.
  
  
• Enhanced Role of Middle Powers: With potential U.S. retrenchment, middle powers like India and Australia are assuming bigger roles, exemplified by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020) and air-to-air refuelling agreements, boosting bilateral defence engagement.

Motivation Behind Deepening India-Australia Ties

Global Security Disruptions

• Donald Trump’s return to the White House has disrupted the existing global security order.
  
  
• His transactional approach and insistence on NATO burden-sharing have introduced uncertainty in traditional security commitments.
  
  

Impact on Indo-Pacific Region

• The Indo-Pacific faces a pivotal moment, creating both risks and strategic openings.
  
  
• This presents opportunities for middle powers like India and Australia to deepen defence cooperation.
  
  

Decline in U.S. Security Guarantees

• Historically, the U.S. provided security assurances to Indo-Pacific allies such as Japan and South Korea, allowing them to focus on economic growth.
  
  
• Under U.S. protection, Japan maintained a pacifist defence posture; South Korea relied on American presence to deter North Korean threats.
  
  

Shift to Transactional Diplomacy

• The Trump administration’s foreign policy became more transactional, tying military support to financial contributions.
  
  
• This reduced trust and raised doubts about the reliability of U.S. alliances among core allies like Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
  
  

Pursuit of Strategic Autonomy

• In response, U.S. allies are investing in self-defence capabilities and building regional security ties beyond the American umbrella.
  
  

Strategic Realignment: Australia and India

• Australia is increasingly deepening ties with India due to concerns over China’s assertive regional posture.
  
  
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has caused fears of debt-trap diplomacy and expanding Chinese influence in Asia.
  
  
• Australia prefers like-minded, democratic partners like India who uphold sovereignty and rule-based norms.
  
  

Geostrategic Complementarity

• Australia’s geography spans the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with military proximity to Southeast Asia, complementing India’s maritime ambitions.
  
  
• The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is experienced in coalition operations and has enhanced India’s capabilities, including the air-to-air refuelling arrangement.

Strengthening India-Australia Defence Partnership

Rebalancing Beyond the Navy

• While naval cooperation has flourished, there is a need to break down service-specific silos.
  
  
• Promote joint exercises involving Army, Navy, and Air Force that simulate real-world scenarios to develop comprehensive operational familiarity.
  
  
• A long-term goal is to plan and execute a large-scale, fully integrated joint exercise.
  
  

Upgrading India’s Defence Representation in Canberra

• The India Defence Adviser (DA) post in Canberra, traditionally held by a naval officer, should be elevated to a one-star rank.
  
  
• This position should be supported by Army and Air Force assistants to ensure balanced service representation.
  
  
• Assign dedicated personnel for Pacific Island engagement to reflect India’s expanding regional interests.
  
  

Incorporating Ground-Level Operational Insights

• Strategic dialogues are often diplomatic and abstract; including mid-level operational personnel can add practical insights.
  
  
• Encouraging classified and candid discussions, along with initiatives like war-gaming exchanges and academic fellowships, would enhance mutual understanding and operational synergy.
  
  

Cooperation in MRO and Small-Island Maritime Security

• India’s expertise in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), proven through contracts with the U.S. and British navies, can benefit Australia.
  
  
• Joint manufacturing of patrol boats for small island nations can enhance technological exposure and logistical alignment.
  
  

Reviving the MSME and Start-Up Ecosystem in Defence

• Defence collaboration has largely excluded MSMEs, which is a missed opportunity.
  
  
• Both countries have growing indigenisation efforts and aerospace/dual-use technology start-ups.
  
  
• A bilateral model like the U.S.-India INDUS X initiative could catalyse joint innovation and production.

Which sectors of defence cooperation require immediate attention? Cross-Service Military Integration: Expand beyond Navy-centric cooperation to encourage joint operations with the Army, Navy, and Air Force. For example, plan a large-scale joint military exercise involving all three services to assess real-world interoperability and improve preparedness.Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) & Joint Manufacturing: Strengthen collaboration in naval MRO facilities and co-produce patrol boats for island states. For example, India's MRO contracts with the US and UK militaries may be mirrored with Australia to sustain regional maritime forces in the Indian and Pacific oceans.Ground-Level Operational Exchanges and War-Gaming: Promote working-level military exchanges, war-gaming, and fellowships to foster trust and new strategic ideas. For example, regular staff college fellowships and classified tabletop exercises can improve understanding and develop tactical collaboration.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Tri-Service and Industrial Cooperation: To create robust, independent capabilities, increase joint military exercises across the services and support MSME-led co-development in defence technology, MRO, and manufacturing.
• Boost Representation and Strategic Architecture: In order to reflect the partnership's increasing strategic significance and operational depth, India should modernise its position as Defence Adviser in Canberra and create specific bilateral MSME engagement venues. 

Practice Question Q. Examine how the India-Australia defense alliance can influence the Indo-Pacific regional security architecture in the context of changing global power dynamics and a transactional U.S. foreign policy.