Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Visit Australia on October 9–10 to Mark 5 Years of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh addresses RAN SAMWAD at the Army War College, in Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh on August 27, 2025.
New Delhi, October 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day official visit to Australia on October 9–10, 2025, at the invitation of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. The visit marks five years of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and will be the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia since 2014.
During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral discussions with his Australian counterpart and chair a business roundtable in Sydney attended by industry leaders from both nations. He is also scheduled to call on other senior Australian leaders. The two sides are expected to sign three key agreements to deepen cooperation in information sharing, maritime security, and joint defence activities.
The Defence Ministry said the visit would provide an opportunity to explore new initiatives to further strengthen the bilateral defence relationship and expand ongoing military engagements.
Defence ties between the two nations have grown steadily, encompassing military exchanges, high-level visits, ship deployments, training programmes, and joint exercises. India and Australia upgraded their ties from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.
The two democracies share strong institutional, economic, and cultural linkages, reinforced by growing educational exchanges and people-to-people connections.
