India and Australia are in the final stages of drafting a new roadmap to strengthen maritime cooperation, with the agreement expected to be signed later this year, according to Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green.
The proposed pact comes amid growing strategic alignment between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific, where Australia increasingly views India as a key security partner. The roadmap is expected to enhance collaboration across maritime security, intelligence sharing, and joint operational capabilities.
Speaking after the release of Australia’s new defence strategy—which identifies India as a major security partner—Green highlighted the natural convergence of interests between the two countries, particularly in the Indian Ocean. He noted that as mutual trust deepens, both nations are likely to expand cooperation in monitoring and securing vital sea lanes.
“The most important collaboration happens where our strategic interests overlap, and that follows geography,” Green said, pointing to the northeast Indian Ocean as a region of increasing strategic competition requiring coordinated surveillance and resource sharing.
The envoy underscored that bilateral defence ties have evolved significantly in recent years. While earlier engagement focused on joint exercises, training exchanges, and high-level visits, the partnership is now expanding into defence industry and technology collaboration.
Australia has already begun taking steps in this direction, including sending its first-ever defence commercial delegation to India last year. Discussions at forums such as the Raisina Dialogue have also accelerated engagement in defence manufacturing and technological cooperation.
Green added that Australia’s push to build sovereign defence capabilities aligns well with India’s growing defence industry, creating new opportunities for joint development and industrial partnerships.
With the new maritime roadmap nearing completion, both countries are expected to further institutionalise cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, reinforcing their shared commitment to regional stability and security.