Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is in New Delhi for the annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue with Rajnath Singh. He paid tribute at the National War Memorial, with the visit underscoring the strategic depth of the India-Australia partnership.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday paid tributes at the National War Memorial here in the national capital. His visit to India comes as he participates in the annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue.
Australian Ambassador to India, Philip Green welcomed Marles and in a post on X highlighted how the visit reflects the momentum, strategic depth & enduring "dosti" defining the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. भारत में आपका स्वागत है @RichardMarlesMP Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister is in Delhi for our annual 🇦🇺🇮🇳 Defence Ministerial Dialogue. The visit highlights the momentum, strategic depth & enduring #dosti defining the 🇦🇺🇮🇳 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. pic.twitter.com/QKcCLWqYX6 — Philip Green OAM (@AusHCIndia) June 1, 2026
India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will co-chair the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in New Delhi on Monday. The dialogue will review the progress in bilateral defence cooperation and identify new avenues for collaboration, an official statement by the Ministry of Defence said.
As per the statement, the discussions will focus on strengthening defence & security cooperation, enhancing military interoperability, industry collaboration, including co-development and co-production opportunities, and regional & global security developments of mutual interest.
The meeting is expected to further strengthen bilateral defence relations, enhance strategic trust and cooperation, promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region and identify new areas of collaboration in defence and security.
Growing Momentum in Defence Partnership
The statement highlighted how the visit of Richard Marles follows the inaugural Dialogue held in Australia in October 2025 and reflects the growing momentum in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Australia is a key partner in India's vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The visit underscores the growing depth and maturity of the India-Australia defence partnership.
Earlier, on October 9, 2025, Marles welcomed Singh to Australia for the inaugural Australia-India Defence Ministers' Dialogue. The dialogue reflected unprecedented progress in the bilateral defence partnership and Ministers' ambition to enhance cooperation, following the four bilateral meetings between the Ministers since the elevation of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. Ministers advanced their Prime Ministers' long-term vision for collaboration between the two countries to enhance collective strength, contribute to both countries' security, and make an important contribution to regional peace and security, the statement read. (ANI)
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