The Prime Ministers of India and Australia recently held their initial virtual bilateral summit. The two leaders plan to meet in-person at the forthcoming extended G-7 summit in the USA later in 2020. During this conference, they have ratified nine agreements including the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Under this agreement, there will be an upgrade of the existing 2+2 dialogue to the Ministerial level, improving the 2009 bilateral Strategic Partnership to a CSP. Up to now, India has already signed CSPs with nations such as the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Similar agreements exist between Australia and countries including China, Indonesia and Singapore. India also maintains a 2+2 ministerial-level dialogues mechanism with the USA and Japan, other members of the Quadrilateral grouping (QUAD).
Mutual Logistics Support Agreement
India and Australia resolved to deepen and widen their defence cooperation by increasing the scope and complexity of their military exercises and engagement activities. The resumed activities aim to develop new ways to address shared security challenges. This will enhance military interoperability through defence exercises while allowing both militaries reciprocal use of bases, humanitarian and disaster relief co-operation, port exercises, and passage exercises.
Joint Declaration on ‘Shared Vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’
Both nations announced a roadmap to harness opportunities and confront challenges jointly as comprehensive strategic partners.
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)
The two sides agreed on resuming suspended talks over the India-Australia CECA, which has been inactive since 2015. This decision follows India choosing to withdraw from the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Addressing the Covid-19 Challenge
Both nations will apply the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund to foster innovative solutions for responding to and treating Covid-19, as well as other jointly determined priorities. They also agreed to strengthen international institutions to ensure they are inclusive and rules-based.
Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-enabled Critical Technology Cooperation
Here, both countries will collaborate in the digital economy, cyber security, and critical and emerging technologies.
Agreement on Agriculture and Related Activities and MoU on Mining and Processing Critical Minerals
Agriculture, faced with shared challenges and climatic conditions, was identified as a pivotal pillar of both economies. Under this agreement, both countries will cooperate on new technologies for exploration and extraction of minerals, including Australian rare earth metals used for electronics, governance, vocational training, and water management.
Maintaining Perspective: Unaddressed Issues and the Way Forward
Despite the extensive collaboration, there were still notable issues left untouched in the recent virtual summit. These include tensions between India and China over the standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Australia-China tensions over trade issues and pandemic handling differences. Also, both leaders offered no discussions on the RCEP.
However, shared values, interests, geography, and objectives form the basis of the blossoming India-Australia ties. The cooperation and coordination between these nations have picked up momentum in recent years. Their vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region emphasizes cooperative use of the seas and adherence to international law.
