K V Prasad  

Characterising defence and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Canberra as the cornerstone of the slew of agreements signed during the virtual summit between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell today said the bilateral ties went beyond what took the spotlight.

Elaborating in the light of first-ever such summit on Thursday, High Commissioner O’Farrell said besides defence and strategic issues, two other pillars of the engagement included reviewing the strength of international institutions to serve the countries and the world, the resilient economy, and step-up in the political understanding between the two leaders.

“There is a desire on both sides to establish a strong and reliable supply chain business having learnt the lesson from what the world has seen in the recent time,” he said, taking part in webinar “India-Australia Partnership in the Indo-Pacific Region”, organised by think-tank India Foundation along with his Indian counterpart A Gitesh Sarma.

While defence cooperation was being stepped up with India and Australia signing the Logistics Supply Agreement, the Indian envoy said as trust and understanding grew, New Delhi felt there were specific areas that could reflect new levels.

For instance, taking security dimensions Australian companies prefer to give contracts in information technology to the US that in turn sub-contract it to Indian firms. This could change with greater understanding. He said: “Australia advocates a free-and-open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and for economic prosperity according to rules and not pursuing ‘might is right’ as is being seen.”

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  7th June, 2020