A landmark uranium deal, plans to boost LNG imports and a stronger defense partnership are among the key outcomes expected from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, according to sources.
The Prime Minister and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese are expected to discuss a wide-ranging agenda, from energy security and critical minerals to defense cooperation, maritime security and technology partnerships, during the three-day visit.
The visit comes at a time when the two countries are looking to deepen cooperation amid the changing geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Historic” uranium agreement and focus on liquefied natural gas
The “historic uranium agreement to secure uranium supplies for civil nuclear power in India” is expected to be among the highlights of the visit, sources said. The agreement would enhance India’s energy security as it looks to expand its nuclear energy capacity.
The deal is significant because Australia currently possesses the world’s largest known uranium reserve, accounting for nearly 28 percent of the global resource, making it a critical partner for New Delhi.
Energy security is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. The two countries are likely to strengthen their energy partnership, with India expected to “increase its imports of liquefied natural gas, coal and diesel” as part of a broader diversification strategy, the sources said.
The proposed measures are expected to help India secure reliable energy supplies while reducing the risks associated with over-reliance on any single source. The need for such diversification gained renewed urgency during the US-Iran conflict, when turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted India’s vulnerability to supply chain shocks in West Asia.
Significant strengthening of defense relations
Defense and security cooperation is also set to form a large part of the talks. According to the source familiar with the discussions, the two sides are working on a “joint defense declaration” that could pave the way for a “defense industrial corridor and enhance interoperability between the armed forces” of the two countries.
India and Australia are expected to establish a defense innovation corridor focusing on startups, defense manufacturing and emerging technologies, officials familiar with the agenda said.
In another important step, India is expected to deploy army officers at the Australian Defense College, a move aimed at enhancing professional military exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries.
India, Australia and other agreements
Another expected outcome is the proposed PACTS agreement between Australia and India, which, according to sources, will focus on “cyber cooperation, critical technologies and supply chain resilience”.
The two countries are also expected to enhance cooperation in the vital minerals sector.
India and Australia are also looking to collaborate in establishing an important mineral corridor to facilitate investment, processing and supply chain partnerships, the sources said. Such an arrangement could help India secure access to essential minerals for batteries, renewable energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
The source added that the two countries are likely to “intensify partnership in the Indo-Pacific region” through a maritime security roadmap that focuses on maritime domain awareness and coastal surveillance.
Counter-terrorism is expected to remain another key area of engagement. Officials said there would be a “strong focus on counter-terrorism” as the two countries seek closer coordination on regional and global security issues.
After concluding his engagements in Australia, Narendra Modi will travel to New Zealand, the last stop of his three-country tour.
