Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated their joint dedication to an open and rules-based Indo-Pacific during the third Australia–India Annual Summit. They opposed any actions that could disrupt regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of upholding rights and freedoms in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The leaders highlighted the significance of resolving disputes peacefully and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation through regional and multilateral institutions to tackle common challenges. They also underscored the Quad’s role in delivering tangible outcomes for the Indo-Pacific and welcomed the agreements reached by Quad Foreign Ministers in New Delhi.
PM Modi and Albanese emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration in the Indian Ocean region, particularly through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). They welcomed joint search and rescue training for IORA Member States and Australia’s hosting of the IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security meeting in Perth.
The two leaders also acknowledged the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and committed to further cooperation through the Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral mechanism. They affirmed their support for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and recognized India’s efforts in extending development partnerships to Pacific Island nations through the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) framework.
