SYDNEY —Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Sydney for his second visit to Australia, aiming to strengthen bilateral defense and security cooperation due to the increasing influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. While other leaders from the Quad nations canceled their Australian visits, Modi proceeded with his plans after President Joe Biden returned to Washington for debt limit talks and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled his trip following the Group of Seven meeting.
Modi is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Indian diaspora at a fully booked Sydney stadium on Tuesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the event and hold a bilateral meeting with Modi on Wednesday. In an interview with The Australian newspaper, Modi expressed his intention to enhance India's relationship with Australia, particularly through closer defense and security ties, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Modi emphasized the shared interests of India and Australia as democratic nations in promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted the alignment of their strategic viewpoints and the existing high level of mutual trust, which has fostered greater cooperation in defense and security matters.
Modi expressed confidence in the value of closer collaboration in these areas, citing joint naval exercises and the potential for further enhancing defense and security cooperation. Albanese, addressing the Australian Parliament, acknowledged India as a key strategic partner and highlighted the deepening commitment to the Quad by announcing Australia's hosting of the Malabar naval exercises involving India, the United States, and Japan.
With great warmth, he extended a heartfelt welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia, acknowledging the immense significance of their bilateral relationship within the backdrop of the ever-changing and vibrant region they both inhabit.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed optimism about completing negotiations for a free trade deal with India before the end of the year, aiming to boost job creation, industry growth, and innovation. The negotiations, initiated in 2011, seek to expand the existing bilateral trade pact between the two countries.
With a total trade value of 46.5 billion Australian dollars in 2022, India ranks as Australia's sixth largest trading partner. Australia's focus on strengthening ties with India is driven by the desire to diversify its trade relationships beyond China. Discussions on renewable energy cooperation were also on the agenda.
The visit marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second trip to Australia, with his previous visit taking place in 2014. The Quad, consisting of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, reformed in 2017, and Australia resumed joint military exercises with the Quad nations in 2020.
With the cancellation of the Sydney leaders' summit, a substitute Quad meeting was held during the G7 summit. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Sydney from Papua New Guinea after hosting a meeting with Pacific Island leaders.
The issue of Muslim and minority rights in India was uncertain to be raised with Modi, but there were expectations for a comprehensive conversation between Albanese and Modi. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted the strong strategic alignment between Australia and India in ensuring the security of the Indo-Pacific region. Thousands of enthusiastic members of the Indian diaspora gathered in Sydney, eagerly anticipating Modi's presence at a rally, which received support from leaders of various religious communities.