Australia and India have enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region through a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Workshop and Tabletop Exercise held in Chennai. The three-day exercise involved search and rescue professionals from Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states, including representatives from the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), as reported by The Australia Today. The workshop in Chennai aimed at improving regional capability, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening coordination during maritime emergencies.
Australia, as Chair of the IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security (WGMSS), collaborated with India to host the program, facilitated by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS). Through joint training initiatives, India and Australia are working towards creating safer maritime environments and improving emergency response across the Indian Ocean Region. In his inaugural address, India’s Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, Amit Shivkumar Telang, emphasized the importance of enhanced inter-agency cooperation to save lives at sea, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
India and Australia recently discussed progress in bilateral maritime security cooperation and the finalization of the Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. During the second India–Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, agreed to advance collaborative maritime domain awareness activities by maritime patrol aircraft and explore opportunities to enhance undersea domain awareness. Both ministers acknowledged the significant progress in bilateral relations and cooperation, aligning with the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for enhancing collective strength and regional peace and security.
