10 July,2026 01:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese (left) reacts as he talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi during a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday. PIC/AFP
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Friday departed for New Zealand after concluding a three-day visit to Australia, during which India and Australia significantly expanded their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a series of agreements covering defence, maritime security, civil nuclear energy, critical minerals, cyber technologies, trade, sports, and people-to-people ties.
The visit culminated in the third Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne, where PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
A key outcome of the summit was the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC), replacing the 2009 bilateral security framework, along with the India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.
The two countries also finalised the administrative arrangements required to operationalise the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, paving the way for Australian uranium exports to India exclusively for peaceful, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-safeguarded civil nuclear energy programmes.
"We have signed an important agreement today on nuclear energy. This will pave the way for uranium supplies from Australia to India and give our clean energy objectives fresh momentum," PM Modi said after the summit.
Albanese described India as a "top-tier security partner" and said the agreement would enable uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes while supporting its clean energy transition.
The leaders also announced the launch of the India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor to connect defence startups and industries, besides unveiling a new partnership on cyber, critical technologies, and supply chains. They also agreed to work together on a critical minerals corridor.
The summit also marked progress in cultural cooperation, with the two leaders welcoming the voluntary return to India of three culturally significant artefacts of Tamil Nadu origin currently held by Australian institutions. The artefacts include an 11th-12th century stone sculpture of the sacred Nandi, an 11th-century metal trident bearing the image of Goddess Bhadrakali, and a 12th-century six-headed stone sculpture of Lord Karthikeya. The two sides also welcomed progress on the return of an Australian First Nations ancestor currently held at the Government Museum in Chennai to its Traditional Custodians in Australia.
Economic cooperation featured prominently during the visit, with PM Modi urging Australian businesses to invest in India's infrastructure, aviation, financial services, technology, food processing, and critical minerals sectors. He also called for an early conclusion of the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
Australia's largest pension fund, AustralianSuper, announced an additional investment of AUD 500 million in India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
The two countries also unveiled an India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap to expand cooperation in sports training, sports science, technology, and investment. As part of the initiative, the opening match of the upcoming Big Bash League season will be played at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, marking the first time a foreign cricket league match will be staged in India.
During his visit, PM Modi also addressed the Australia-India CEO Forum, interacted with business leaders, met Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Victoria Governor Margaret Gardner AC and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, and addressed a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne.
"As my Australia visit concludes, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Australia as well as to PM Albanese for their warmth. The outcomes of this visit have further strengthened our partnership and opened new avenues for cooperation across diverse sectors. The momentum in the times to come will benefit our nation and the entire planet," PM Modi said in a post on X, as he concluded his three-day visit.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit had further strengthened the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and opened new avenues for collaboration across defence, economic engagement, education, sports and community ties.
Modi has now departed for Auckland, where he will hold talks with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon as part of the final leg of his three-nation tour.
(With inputs from AFP, IANS, PTI, and ANI)
