India-Australia defence ties beyond American shadows

Donald Trump's return to the White House has sent shockwaves through the global security landscape.

- GNS News Agency, June 10

With the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) being put on a burden-sharing timeline and Mr. Trump's cold transactional approach to security commitments worldwide, the Indo-Pacific too faces a pivotal moment. Yet, this represents a strategic opportunity for middle powers such as India and Australia to deepen their defence relationship.

Australia’s strategic geography — bridging the Indian and Pacific Oceans with territories and military presence near Southeast Asia — complements India’s maritime ambitions. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is experienced in coalition operations and can effectively enable Indian military capabilities, as seen in the recently implemented air-to-air refuelling arrangement. Australia’s established relationships with Pacific Island nations align with India’s growing interests. Most importantly, both nations share concerns about China's assertiveness and a common vision for sovereign resilience and regional stability. While Japan, South Korea, and Europe are all valuable partners for India, the New Delhi-Canberra defence relationship has quietly built bureaucratic muscles, which are skeletal in other relationships. Over the past decade, successive Australian Prime Ministers and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have elevated this partnership, with Canberra viewing New Delhi as a “top-tier security partner”. This foundation now provides the perfect launch pad to navigate a world where American security guarantees appear increasingly conditional.