The two nations work closely together in a variety of industries and are significant partners in the Indo-Pacific. These are some crucial elements of the two-way relationship in light of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s travel to India.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, is making his maiden trip to India. He had traveled to the cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to watch the Test match between India and Australia.
The Prime Minister also twittered about it, stating that this rivalry between the two nations is motivated by real respect, which symbolizes the kinship and camaraderie between our people.
Australia and India are fighting to be the best group in the world on the field. The second Australian prime minister to visit India for four days is Ablis.
Previous to that, Malcolm Turnbull, a former Aussie, visited India to improve bilateral ties between the two countries.
He was the first head of state from his nation to go to India. In his tweet, Ahmedabad’s Prime Minister Albanese added that, outside of sports, we are working together to create a better world. The first annual summit between India and Australia was held today, or on Friday.
The two nations have numerous facets to their connection.
Shared ideals of Commonwealth tradition, extending economic connection, pluralism, Westminster-style democracies, and upping high-level exchanges are prioritized in bilateral ties between the two nations.
There are numerous characteristics shared by the two that serve as the basis for close cooperation and complex connections between the two nations, including a strong, active, secular, and free press, multicultural democracy, and the usage of English.
As the Cold War ended in 1991, India liberalized its economy. He accomplished this by implementing a number of economic reforms that aided in the development of cordial ties between the two nations
In addition, the number of Indian students enrolling in higher education programs in Australia has been steadily rising. The two countries’ shared love of cricket and tourism has significantly strengthened their bilateral ties.
As time went on, both nations not only deepened their economic links but also changed the course of their strategic alliance.
Both nations have recently moved closer to a transformational trajectory of expansion for development. They both take the same stance against global terrorism.
Also, both nations are advancing with a joint commitment based on laws in the Indo-Pacific area. Both nations have developed a multilateral framework for their bilateral relations.
In addition, both nations are a part of the Quad group, which also consists of America and Japan.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott traveled to India in September 2014. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his maiden trip to Australia in November of that same year. Previous to PM Modi, Rajiv Gandhi, a former prime minister, traveled to Australia for business in 1986. He also made history by being the first prime minister of India to address a joint session of the Australian parliament.
Then, in June 2020, during a virtual summit, the leaders of the two nations upgraded their bilateral ties from a strategic partnership established in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Three phone calls were made between Morrison and Prime Minister Modi in 2021. Together with this, the two presidents individually interacted in Glasgow for the climate summit COP26 and in Washington, DC. In March 2022, the second Australia-IndiaVirtual Summit featured a number of significant announcements.
Letters of the agreement for the recognition of citizens’ educational credentials from both countries are part of a drive to foster aptitude development between the two nations so that professionals and students can travel easily between the two. Albanese and the prime minister had three meetings last year. In 2022 and 2023, ministerial visits were made between the two nations.
On February 18 of this year, the Foreign Minister of India visited Australia. After his visit, his counterpart from Australia, Penny Wong, spent 28 February–3 March in India. Jason Clare, the education minister for Australia, also traveled to India.
With China, the two nations’ relations have gotten worse.
Canberra barred the Chinese telecom company Huawei from 5G networks in 2018. Australia and China’s relationship deteriorated as a result. Afterward, Australia ordered an investigation into how China spread Kovid-19. In addition, Australia denounced human rights for China’s atrocities in the regions of Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
China then put exports from Australia under sanctions and ended the ministerial negotiations. India is currently dealing with China’s expansionist policies on the LAC.
Since 2013, Canberra and New Delhi have been analyzing Chinese issues. Former Australian envoy Peter Verghese stated in a lecture at the Center for Policy Research last year that China’s game of hide-and-seek, its aspirations to rule the Indo-Pacific area, economic threats, and its efforts to rebuild the Middle Kingdom An key component of these policies is the need for other nations to maintain a balance in their interactions with China and India.
He added that Australia and India both support an international order based on rules. The urge for regional institutions to be established in the Indo-Pacific area is shared by both parties. which encourages economic and social integration and can reduce stress. The Quad group is an excellent illustration of how to defend one’s interests based on shared concerns.
These areas see an improvement in bilateral relations between the two nations.
Economic cooperation: For the first time in the previous ten years, India signed an (ECTA) Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement with a developed nation. In December 2022, the first free trade contract between the two nations went into effect.
As a result, the taxation charge was immediately cut by up to 96 percent. 85% of Australian exports to India are now worthless, while the importance of Indian exports to Australia, which make up 98% of the tariff charge, has decreased to zero.
With the enactment of ECTA, the two nations’ bilateral commerce is forecast to reach US$ 27.5 billion in 2021 and US$ 50 billion in the following five years.
Education: On March 2 of this year, the two nations agreed to the Mutual Distinction of Educational Qualifications (MREQ). This will make it easier for students to travel between Australia and India.
Wollongong and Deakin universities in Australia are developing proposals to establish campuses there. Indian students currently make up the second-largest international student population in Australian universities, enrolling in over one lakh courses.
Strengthening the two nations’ defense cooperation: Ministerial discussions between the two nations were held in September 2021. In June 2022, Australia’s Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister paid a visit. (MLSA) The Mutual Logistic Support Agreement, which was signed earlier in June 2020 during the two nations’ virtual summit, took place.
After that, in 2022, both nations’ forces participated in a number of joint drills. This year’s Malabar military training will take place in Australia in August along the coast of Perth. which will be hosted by Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. India will also be invited to take part in the Talisman Saber training by Australia.
committing to low-cost clean energy technologies: In February of last year, the nations signed a memorandum of intent to advance the use of innovative and renewable energy sources. so that the price of renewable energy technologies, particularly ultra-cheap solar and pure hydrogen, can be brought down. During a virtual conference in March 2022, India offered a $10 million fund for Pacific Island nations under the (ISAInfrastructure)’s International Solar Alliance Resilient Island States (IRIS) program.
Relationships between people: India is one of the top nations for sending talented workers to Australia. With 9.76 lakh people declaring Indian ancestry in Australia as of the 2021 census, Australia is home to the second-largest population of Indians who were born abroad. The Australian government lit up additional than 40 buildings nationwide to commemorate India’s 75th anniversary of independence, and Prime Minister Albanese also produced a special video greeting.