Australia’s Richard Marles to Visit India for Key Defense Dialogue with Rajnath Singh

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Richard Marles, will visit India next week for the second Australia-India Defense Ministers’ Dialogue with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, as both countries seek to deepen strategic and military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

“We remain committed to deepening diplomatic and defense relationships to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific,” Richard Marles said.

“Australia and India are top-tier security partners. I look forward to meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to further strengthen our defense partnership following the strong progress we made during his visit to Australia last year,” Marles added.

Officials said the India visit reflects the expanding defense partnership between New Delhi and Canberra amid rising strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.

The dialogue follows the inaugural Australia-India Defense Ministers’ meeting held in Australia last October.

The discussions between Singh and Marles are expected to focus on operational cooperation, defense industry collaboration, maritime security, and shared regional priorities.

The coming visit follows Marles’ participation in the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore (May 29-31), one of the region’s premier defense and security forums bringing together military and strategic leaders from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

During the Singapore summit, Marles is expected to address the third plenary session on “Asia’s Maritime Security Disorder,” focusing on growing maritime security challenges and the need for greater regional cooperation.

Marles is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several international defense counterparts on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Describing the regional security environment as increasingly complex, Marles said the Shangri-La Dialogue remains an important platform for engagement and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to strengthening defense partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

“In a deteriorating strategic environment, the Shangri-La Dialogue provides an important forum to engage with partners on shared challenges,” he said.

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