Deputy Prime Minister Marles visits India to celebrate five years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership   

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, visited New Delhi from 3–4 June 2025, reinforcing the deep trust and enduring partnership between Australia and India. The visit came at a significant moment, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). From shared security interests in the Indian Ocean to expanding collaboration in education, innovation and climate action, the CSP continues to be the cornerstone of our Australia–India ties.

During his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his counterpart Minister Rajnath Singh, reaffirming Australia’s commitment to working closely with India across key strategic domains. Deputy Prime Minister Marles also attended a gala reception hosted at the Australian High Commission on 4 June alongside Minister Jaishankar, where he met with government officials, business leaders and defence partners to celebrate the growing Australia–India relationship. The visit also had a personal and symbolic dimension. From a morning run through Delhi’s historic Nehru Park to enjoying a cup of chai in Malcha Marg, Minister Marles experienced the warmth and vibrancy of Indian hospitality.

Launched in 2020, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has accelerated bilateral engagement across defence and security, economic cooperation, clean energy, education, and critical technologies.

Read more on our CSP here https://india.highcommission.gov.au/ndli/pa0325.html

(Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles meets with Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reaffirming the growing momentum in the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership) 

National Reconciliation Week: Honouring Heritage through First Nations Stories  

On 27 May 2025, the Australian High Commission hosted a reception elevating Australian First Nations voices for National Reconciliation Week in New Delhi. Observed between 27 May and 3 June, Reconciliation Week highlights Australia’s ongoing journey of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and is a time for Australians to learn about and reflect on our shared history. The reception at Triveni Kala Sangam inaugurated the Australian First Nations exhibition Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route. Developed by the National Museum of Australia, the exhibition offered an Indigenous perspective on the historic Canning Stock Route, one of the country’s most significant inland corridors. The exhibition featured striking paintings, photographs and oral histories that marked a vital chapter in Australia’s history. Through the voices and artistry of Australia’s First Nations communities, the exhibition showcased themes of cultural resilience, survival and continuity. Addressing the audience, High Commissioner Philip Green reflected on the values of Australia’s new leadership - fairness, aspiration, and opportunity, which have played a central role in Australia’s reconciliation journey. The High Commissioner reiterated Australia’s enduring commitment to inclusion and diversity, drawing thoughtful parallels to India’s own rich cultural heritage and noting the powerful role of art in fostering mutual understanding and respect between peoples.

(Visitors take in the powerful storytelling of Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route in New Delhi)