10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks Held in New Delhi: Key Outcomes

Overview

The  10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks  took place in  New Delhi on 8 May 2026 . India’s Joint Secretary  Amitabh Prasad  led the Indian side. Australia’s First Assistant Secretary (International Policy)  Bernard Philip  led the Australian side. The two countries discussed defence cooperation, maritime security, training exchanges, and defence industry collaboration. This meeting strengthens the  Comprehensive Strategic Partnership  that both nations established in 2020.

What Are the India-Australia Defence Policy Talks?

The Defence Policy Talks are a regular meeting between India and Australia. They discuss defence and security matters. The  10th meeting  was held in  New Delhi on 8 May 2026 . This is part of a formal process. Both countries use these talks to review past work and plan future cooperation.

Who Led the Two Sides?

Both officials are senior defence policymakers. Their discussions covered many important topics.

What Is the Background of This Partnership?

India and Australia raised their relationship to a  Comprehensive Strategic Partnership  in  2020 . Defence cooperation is a major part of this partnership. In  2025 , the two countries started the annual  India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue . The Defence Policy Talks are one level below that. They create a strong institutional mechanism for regular consultation.

What Did the Two Sides Discuss?

The talks had several key agenda items:

1. Review of past outcomes  – They looked at what was achieved after the  2024 India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit .

2. Renewal of Joint Declaration  – They discussed renewing the  Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation .

3. Maritime security  – They worked on a  Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap .

4. Implementing arrangements  – They finalised several key documents to put plans into action.

5. Joint Staff Talks  – They planned the  first India-Australia Joint Staff Talks  later in  2026 .

What About Training Exchanges?

Training young officers is very important. The talks included:

• Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme  – Named after India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.