Australian And French Defence Minister To Visit India This Week

“I may even handle one in every of India’s preeminent assume tanks, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, on our relationship with India and Australia’s defence insurance policies extra broadly”, Andrews stated.

Concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India is the Australian Government’s top bilateral priority said Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews. Meanwhile Andrews will accord a guard of honour at the defence ministry on Wednesday and also he was scheduled to meet the defence minister of India Manohar Parrikar, also External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Though the first visit of the Indian defence minister was only in 2013, the cooperation between the two countries has rapidly increased in terms of joint naval exercises, visits of the service chiefs, and signing of regional security MoUs.

In a press release issued forward of his visit, Andrews stated the journey is being undertaken to advance defence cooperation additional between the 2 nations.

India has also stated that a Chinese submarine docked at a port in Pakistan in May and July past year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The deal has been delayed pending approval by the Australian Parliament.

“India is a key strategic partner…” India is keen to import Uranium for its nuclear reactors from Australia, which holds close to 40 percent of the known global reserves.

The exercises, which will include both sea and shore-based phases, will kick off on September 11 off India’s Visakhapatnam Port in the Bay of Bengal, according to the magazine.

Observing that both countries have a shared interest in the maintenance of freedom of navigation and trade, Mr. Andrews called on China to be clear of its intentions in the region.