India and Australia Strengthen Ties Through 2+2 Secretary-Level Talks

India and Australia conducted their fourth 2+2 Secretary-level consultations in New Delhi on Monday, focusing on a range of important topics, including political, strategic, defense, and security issues, as well as regional and global matters of mutual interest.

The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. On the Australian side, Secretary of the Department of Defence Greg Moriarty and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Jan Adams represented their nation.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), shared insights from the meeting on X, sharing, "The fourth India-Australia 2+2 Secretary-level Consultations were held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri, while the Australian side was led by Secretary, Department of Defence Mr. Greg Moriarty and Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) Ms. Jan Adams. Discussions covered a wide range of issues such as political, strategic, defense and security, and regional and global issues of mutual interest."

In a related meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Australian Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Jan Adams, highlighting the benefits of their conversation for the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.' Jaishankar posted on X, "Pleased to receive Australian @dfat Secretary Jan Adams today in New Delhi. The exchanges and conversations between us befits our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also met with Greg Moriarty, expressing his eagerness to further enhance defense cooperation between India and Australia. Singh wrote on X, "Was pleased to meet the Australian Secretary for Department of Defence, Mr. Greg Moriarty in New Delhi. Looking forward to further strengthen India-Australia defense cooperation."

Philip Green OAM, the Australian High Commissioner to India, emphasized the significance of the meeting in fortifying the security partnership between the two nations. He remarked, "Another important brick in our intensifying security partnership. The India-Australia Secretaries' 2+2 meeting today—taking place in the years between our Ministerial 2+2 India - Australia—ensures we continue to build momentum."

The relationship between Australia and India was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in June 2020, founded on mutual respect, friendship, and a shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Notably, Australia is one of only three countries with which India holds annual leader-level summits. The Prime Ministers of both nations regularly engage at international forums, including the Quad, G20, and East Asia Summit. Most recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos on October 10.

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