Observation
Over the past half-decade, Australia and India have drawn closer together politically, economically, and strategically. Australian and Indian prime ministers and their ministers now engage regularly on a bilateral basis and through groupings such as the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, the United States) and the G20. Economically, the countries have launched reciprocal strategies aimed at boosting two-way trade and investment, and agreed a trade deal that entered into force in December 2022. The tempo of defence and security cooperation has also lifted as both countries seek to deepen partnerships to balance China’s growing military weight in the Indo-Pacific.
At the same time, media and international human rights groups have documented religious discrimination as well as voiced concerns about an erosion of free speech and freedom of the press in India.