Australia is one of the top-five producers of rare earths, the compounds used in making microchips

India and Australia, on Wednesday announced a way forward on joint defence research and material cooperation. Australia is one of the top-five producers of rare earths, the compounds used in making microchips that are the heart of any modern military equipment.

The India-Australia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Research and Materiel Cooperation, will meet in Australia later this year, it was announced in bilateral statement after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi.

This JWG is a crucial mechanism for boosting ties between defence industries. The Ministers discussed further opportunities for industrial cooperation between India and Australia to increase the resilience of supply chains and deliver capabilities to their respective defence forces, the statement said. Both sides agreed to explore means to grow connections and opportunities between Indian and Australian defence industrial bases.

The two Ministers reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities which have been increasing despite challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and discussed ways to enhance further cooperation.

The Ministers reviewed the defence and security pillars of the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. 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. The ministers welcomed the growing diversity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides undertook to build upon operational engagements through the India-Australia Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement (MLSA) which was signed in 2020 and allows access to military bases for logistics support like fuel ratios and spare parts.

The Ministers reviewed strategic challenges and the regional security situation and reaffirmed their shared objective of an open, free, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based Indo Pacific region. They looked forward to India’s participation in Australia’s Indo Pacific Endeavour exercise in October 2022.

Both Ministers welcomed the plan to commence the landmark General Rawat Young Officer Exchange Programme in the latter half of 2022, which was announced during the virtual summit meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries on March 21, 2022.

Earlier in the day, the visiting Australian dignitary was at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the war heroes by laying a wreath at the monument. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour before the bilateral meeting.

Courtesy: The Tribune India :22nd June , 2022