Quad Foreign Ministers meet in Washington to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation     

The Secretary of State of the United States, and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan met in Washington on 1 July 2025 for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming their unwavering commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. At a time of growing regional complexity, the Ministers discussed a wide range of collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening regional stability. The Quad Foreign Ministers announced a new, ambitious, and strong agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. This renewed focus will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, held separate meetings with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. These meetings reinforced the strong bilateral relationships Australia shares with each Quad partner. The next Quad Leaders’ Summit will be hosted by India later this year and the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be hosted by Australia in 2026. Read the QUAD Joint Statement here.  
 

(Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington) 

Australia and India maritime interoperability reaches new heights    

Australia and India are top-tier security partners, and maritime security remains central to our shared interests. In June 2025, our growing maritime partnership took a significant step forward with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) deploying personnel and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to Goa for joint maritime operations with the Indian Navy’s P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft. Hosted by Indian Naval Air Squadron 316 ‘The Condors’, the mission strengthened tactical and operational integration between the RAAF’s P-8A Poseidon and its Indian counterpart. During the deployment, Australian and Indian aircraft supported the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the northern Indian Ocean, conducting integrated maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine warfare missions alongside Royal Navy assets. In addition to enhancing our interoperability, the high-end exercise included in-depth subject matter exchanges between RAAF and Indian Navy personnel. The successful deployment reflects Australia's deepening defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific and reinforces the vital maritime partnership between Australia and India.

(Australian & Indian P8 Poseidon aircraft conducted joint flight operations in the northeast Indian Ocean, enhancing our interoperability) 

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

(Meeting between our Deputy Prime Minsiter Hon Richard Marles MP and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi) 

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)