Historical Ties: India’s establishment of a Trade Office in Sydney in 1941 marked the beginning of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations. Today, India is represented by a High Commissioner in Canberra, with Consulate Generals in Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne. Australia reciprocates with a High Commission in New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai and Chennai.
Growing Presence: In a bid to strengthen business relations, Australia announced the establishment of a Consulate-General in Kolkata, primarily focused on India’s burgeoning mining sector.
International Affiliations: Both Australia and India are founding members of the United Nations, members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and active participants in regional organizations like the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Territorial Disputes: Australia has traditionally supported India’s stance on Arunachal Pradesh, which remains a subject of diplomatic tension between India and the People’s Republic of China.
Security Cooperation: While the Cold War era witnessed divergent strategic perspectives, recent years have seen a significant strengthening of security relations, culminating in a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation in 2009.
High-Level Visits: The relationship has been advanced through high-level visits, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Australia in 2014, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit in 2017, and numerous virtual summits aimed at expanding the strategic partnership. These interactions have also emphasized the importance of strengthening the military alliance between the two nations.
Challenges: Several factors, such as the Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing in 1978 and the recent tensions with China, have at times challenged the Australia-India relationship. However, the nations have consistently sought to overcome these challenges through dialogue and cooperation.
Pandemic Impact: The outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted diplomatic plans, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s scheduled visit to New Delhi in 2020. Nevertheless, the leaders of both countries continued to foster relations through virtual summits and discussions on mutual interests.
