Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on June 22, 2022 and reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities which have been increasing despite challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. They reaffirmed their commitment towards implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law. They welcomed the growing diversity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges between the two countries and undertook to build upon operational engagements through the India-Australia Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. Both Ministers committed to give fillip to the India-Australia Joint Working Group on Defence Research and Materiel Cooperation, which will meet in Australia later this year. Mr Richard Marles was on a visit to India from June 20 to 23, 2022.
