{"id":230567,"date":"2023-03-11T19:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-11T13:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=230567"},"modified":"2023-08-28T14:34:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T09:04:49","slug":"india-australia-relations-challenges-and-significance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-australia-relations-challenges-and-significance\/","title":{"rendered":"India-Australia relations: Challenges and Significance – Explained, pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
For\u00a07PM Editorial<\/strong>\u00a0Archives click\u00a0HERE <\/a>\u2192<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The<\/span> Australian<\/span> Prime<\/span> Minister<\/span> (PM)<\/span> is<\/span> on<\/span> a<\/span> trip<\/span> to<\/span> India. During his visit, India and Australia signed an Audio-visual co-production agreement. The two Prime Ministers also discussed a range of domains to improve India-Australia relations. But to realise the full potential of India-Australia relations few concerns have to be addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are key discussions in the recent Australian Prime Minister (PM) visit to India?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

– Australia<\/span> wants<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span> with<\/span> India<\/span> and<\/span> build<\/span> a<\/span> relationship<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> areas<\/span> of<\/span> culture,<\/span> economics,<\/span> and<\/span> security.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Both<\/span> countries signed<\/span> memorandums<\/span> of<\/span> understanding<\/span> (MoUs)<\/span> for<\/span> sports<\/span> and<\/span> audio-visual<\/span> co-production<\/span> agreements,<\/span> and<\/span> they<\/span> also<\/span> talked<\/span> about<\/span> the<\/span> terms<\/span> of<\/span> reference<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> Solar<\/span> Taskforce<\/span> between<\/span> India<\/span> and<\/span> Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

India was worried<\/span> about<\/span> the<\/span> damage<\/span> done<\/span> to<\/span> Hindu<\/span> temples<\/span> in<\/span> Australia<\/span> by<\/span> people<\/span> who<\/span> support<\/span> the<\/span> Khalistani<\/span> government.<\/span> In reply, Australia agreed to<\/span> protect<\/span> and<\/span> keep<\/span> safe<\/span> the<\/span> Indian<\/span> community<\/span> in<\/span> Australia.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About the evolution of India-Australia relations in the past<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"India-Australia
Source: MEA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pre-Independence ties<\/strong>: India<\/span> and<\/span> Australia’s<\/span> relations<\/span> started<\/span> immediately<\/span> after<\/span> European<\/span> arrival<\/span> in<\/span> Australia<\/span> in<\/span> 1788.<\/span> All<\/span> trade<\/span> to<\/span> and<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> penal<\/span> colony<\/span> of<\/span> New<\/span> South<\/span> Wales<\/span> was<\/span> controlled<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> British<\/span> East<\/span> India<\/span> Company<\/span> through<\/span> Kolkata.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both established diplomatic\u00a0relations<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> pre-Independence<\/span> period,<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> establishment<\/span> of<\/span> the\u00a0India Trade Office in Sydney <\/strong>in<\/span> 1941.<\/span> The<\/span> end<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Cold<\/span> War<\/span> and<\/span> simultaneously<\/span> India\u2019s<\/span> decision<\/span> to<\/span> launch<\/span> major<\/span> economic<\/span> reforms<\/span> in<\/span> 1991<\/span> provided<\/span> the<\/span> first<\/span> positive<\/span> move<\/span> towards<\/span> the development<\/span> of<\/span> closer<\/span> ties<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> two<\/span> nations.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Post-Independence ties<\/strong>: With<\/span> the<\/span> passage<\/span> of<\/span> time,<\/span> the<\/span> relationship<\/span> gained<\/span> momentum<\/span> towards<\/span> a<\/span> strategic<\/span> relationship,<\/span> alongside<\/span> the<\/span> existing<\/span> economic<\/span> engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since<\/span> the<\/span> elevation<\/span> of<\/span> the\u00a0relationship<\/span> in<\/span> 2020,<\/span> the<\/span> countries<\/span> have<\/span> advanced<\/span> practical<\/span> actions<\/span> on<\/span> cyber<\/span> and<\/span> critical<\/span> technologies,<\/span> maritime<\/span> affairs,<\/span> defence<\/span> ties,<\/span> economic<\/span> and<\/span> business<\/span> links<\/span> and<\/span> Quadrilateral<\/span> cooperation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> countries<\/span> have<\/span> also signed<\/span> India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (India-Australia\u00a0ECTA) <\/strong>in<\/span> 2022.<\/span> It<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> path-breaking<\/span> trade<\/span> agreement<\/span> for<\/span> both<\/span> countries<\/span> and<\/span> is<\/span> expected<\/span> to<\/span> enhance<\/span> bilateral<\/span> trade.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the significance of Australia to India and vice versa?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Indo-Pacific <\/strong>Stability<\/strong>:<\/span> Both<\/span> nations<\/span> aspire<\/span> to\u00a0a<\/span> free,<\/span> open,<\/span> inclusive,<\/span> and<\/span> prosperous<\/span> Indo-Pacific.<\/span> The<\/span> establishment<\/span> of<\/span> QUAD<\/span> grouping<\/span> and<\/span> active<\/span> participation<\/span> by<\/span> both<\/span> is<\/span> necessary<\/span> to<\/span> counter<\/span> China\u2019s<\/span> actions<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gateway to Pacific <\/strong>Countries<\/strong>:<\/span> The<\/span> growing<\/span> cooperation<\/span> would<\/span> help<\/span> India<\/span> get<\/span> better<\/span> access<\/span> to<\/span> Pacific<\/span> Island<\/span> nations<\/span> like<\/span> Kiribati,<\/span> Solomon<\/span> Islands<\/span> etc.<\/span> as<\/span> Australia<\/span> enjoys<\/span> a<\/span> high<\/span> degree<\/span> of<\/span> influence<\/span> over<\/span> them.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Indian <\/strong>Diaspora<\/strong>:<\/span> As<\/span> per<\/span> the<\/span> Australian<\/span> Bureau<\/span> of<\/span> Statistics<\/span>\u2019<\/span> 2016<\/span> census,<\/span> 619,164<\/span> people<\/span> in<\/span> Australia<\/span> declared<\/span> that<\/span> they<\/span> were<\/span> of<\/span> ethnic<\/span> Indian<\/span> ancestry<\/span> which<\/span> made<\/span> 2.8%<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Australian<\/span> population.<\/span> This<\/span> huge<\/span> number<\/span> induces<\/span> India<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span> in<\/span> tandem<\/span> with<\/span> Australia<\/span> for<\/span> ensuring<\/span> their<\/span> well-being\u00a0and<\/span> development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Upholding International <\/strong>Law<\/strong>:<\/span> Both<\/span> nations<\/span> have<\/span> a<\/span> firm<\/span> commitment<\/span> to<\/span> a<\/span> rule-based\u00a0international<\/span> order.<\/span> They<\/span> believe<\/span> in<\/span> sovereign<\/span> equality<\/span> of<\/span> nations<\/span> and<\/span> progression<\/span> based<\/span> on<\/span> mutual<\/span> respect<\/span> and<\/span> understanding.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Geo-Strategic <\/strong>Considerations<\/strong>:<\/span> Considering<\/span> Australia\u2019s<\/span> proximity<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> Indian<\/span> Ocean,<\/span> active<\/span> engagement<\/span> is<\/span> desired<\/span> for<\/span> maintaining<\/span> India\u2019s<\/span> strong<\/span> position<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> Indian<\/span> Ocean<\/span> region.<\/span> Further,<\/span> Australia\u2019s<\/span> support<\/span> is<\/span> desired<\/span> for<\/span> getting<\/span> membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and bringing reforms to <\/strong>UNSC<\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy security<\/strong>:<\/span> Australia\u2019s<\/span> long-term<\/span> and<\/span> secure<\/span> LNG<\/span> supply<\/span> can<\/span> help<\/span> diversify<\/span> India\u2019s<\/span> current<\/span> highly<\/span> concentrated<\/span> import<\/span> supplies<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> Middle<\/span> East.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Defying <\/strong>China<\/strong>:<\/span> Australia<\/span> is<\/span> fully<\/span> aware<\/span> of<\/span> China’s<\/span> desire<\/span> to<\/span> become<\/span> the<\/span> dominating<\/span> force<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> Indo-Pacific<\/span> region.<\/span> They<\/span> are<\/span> also<\/span> aware<\/span> of<\/span> China’s<\/span> use<\/span> of<\/span> economic<\/span> coercion<\/span> and<\/span> its<\/span> goal<\/span> to<\/span> restore<\/span> the<\/span> Middle<\/span> Kingdom<\/span>.<\/span> All<\/span> of<\/span> this<\/span> is<\/span> causing<\/span> other<\/span> countries<\/span> like Australia to<\/span> balance<\/span> and<\/span> restrain<\/span> China.<\/span> And<\/span> India<\/span> is<\/span> seen<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> key<\/span> component<\/span> in<\/span> these<\/span> initiatives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more: India-Australia Bilateral Relationship \u2013 Explained, pointwise\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What are the areas of cooperation in India-Australia Relations?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"India-Australia
Source: MEA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Comprehensive strategic <\/strong>partnership<\/strong>:<\/span> In<\/span> 2020, the Prime<\/span> Ministers<\/span> of<\/span> both<\/span> the<\/span> countries<\/span> elevated<\/span> bilateral<\/span> relationship<\/span> from<\/span> “strategic<\/span> partnership”<\/span> to<\/span> “comprehensive<\/span> strategic<\/span> partnership”<\/span> during<\/span> the\u00a0India-Australia<\/span> Leaders<\/span>\u2019<\/span> Virtual<\/span> Summit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Defence <\/strong>Cooperation<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n