India, Australia likely to sign 3 military agreements during Rajnath’s visit this week

India and Australia are likely to ink three military-related agreements this week to enhance cooperation in the areas of information-sharing, maritime domain, and joint military activities.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the agreements are planned to be signed when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a two-day official visit to Australia on October 9 and 10 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia Richard Marles.

It will be the first visit of a defence minister to Australia under this government, since 2014, the Ministry of Defence said.  

Richard Marles last visited India in June 2025 and met Rajnath, and also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Defence engagements have expanded over time to include wide-ranging interactions between the services, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity-building and training programmes, cooperation in the maritime domain, ship visits, and bilateral exercises, the MoD said.

Rajnath’s visit comes at a moment when India and Australia commemorate five years of establishment of India Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

The minister will hold bilateral discussions with his Australian counterpart and chair a business roundtable in Sydney, which will be attended by industry leaders from both sides. He will also call on other national leaders of Australia.

India and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship from a Strategic Partnership in 2009 to a CSP in 2020.