India-Australia discuss strategic partnership in critical minerals, trade & investments

India and Australia on Monday held a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue to step up defence cooperation and deepen the strategic partnership in sectors such as critical minerals and trade and investment.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar met Australian deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles and foreign minister Penny Wong in New Delhi as part of the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Understandably, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region amid China’s military ambitions figured in the Dialogue.


In a post on X, formerly Twitter, external affairs ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Ministers will exchange views on deepening multifaceted India-Australia ties, including in areas of defence and security, trade & investment, critical minerals, energy, climate change, S&T, space, education and people to people linkages. Regional and global issues are also on agenda."

Ahead of the meeting, Ms Wong and Mr Marles visited the National War Memorial to pay respects to soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

“India and Australia have a long history of military relations - Australian soldiers have fought alongside Indian troops in a number of campaigns, including at Gallipoli," Wong said on X.