Australia is placing India at the centre of its evolving strategic calculus, with Canberra identifying New Delhi as a “top-tier security partner” amid a more contested and uncertain Indo-Pacific, according to Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green.
In an interview on The Gist, Green underscored that Australia’s latest national defence strategy explicitly recognises the north-east Indian Ocean as core strategic geography, bringing India into sharper focus than ever before. This alignment, he suggested, reflects not a departure but a deepening of an already converging trajectory between the two countries.
The evolving security environment, marked by shorter warning times and multi-domain threats, is pushing Australia to strengthen both sovereign capabilities and partnerships. In this context, Green said bilateral ties with India are becoming more critical even as multilateral frameworks remain relevant.
Defence cooperation has already expanded significantly. Joint military exercises have increased in scale and complexity, with India participating in Australia’s premier multilateral exercise, Talisman Saber, for the first time. The growing tempo of engagement is aimed at improving interoperability, particularly as both countries operate similar platforms in key domains such as air power.
Technology is emerging as another pillar of this partnership. While Australia continues to invest in conventional military capabilities, it is also accelerating work on autonomous systems. Green highlighted programmes such as the “Ghost Bat” autonomous aerial platform, “Ghost Shark” underwater system, and the solar-powered “Blue Bottle” maritime platform, describing them as complementary to traditional assets.
At the same time, Canberra is expanding indigenous defence production, even as it maintains close ties with established partners like the United States. Green acknowledged that defence industry collaboration with India is still at a relatively early stage, but noted growing efforts to bridge that gap through delegations, dialogues and joint initiatives.
Maritime security remains the most immediate area of convergence, given the shared geography of the Indian Ocean. A bilateral maritime cooperation roadmap is currently under development, with maritime domain awareness identified as a priority. Space and cyber are also emerging as important frontiers. Green pointed to increasing engagement between Australian and Indian space industries, as well as opportunities for deeper collaboration in cyber and critical technologies.
On China, Green struck a balanced tone, stating that Australia would cooperate where possible, disagree where necessary, and always act in its national interest. He emphasised concerns over the scale and transparency of China’s military modernisation, while reiterating that the Quad is not directed at any single country but is focused on maintaining a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Beyond security, the relationship is expanding rapidly across economic and societal domains. Trade between the two countries has surged, with India’s exports to Australia growing significantly faster than its global average. This, Green noted, reflects strong complementarities, particularly in sectors such as energy, critical minerals and education.
Education ties are also deepening, with Australian universities establishing campuses in India following regulatory changes. Seven institutions are now approved to operate locally, offering Indian students access to Australian degrees without leaving the country.
Migration and diaspora links continue to strengthen the relationship further. People of Indian origin now number over a million in Australia, making a substantial contribution to the country’s economy and society.
Looking ahead, Green pointed to new opportunities in investment and major sporting collaboration, suggesting that the partnership is entering a more mature and multidimensional phase.
