India-Australia ties get major boost with defence, nuclear and critical minerals deals

India and Australia on Thursday announced a series of agreements aimed at expanding cooperation across defence, civil nuclear energy, maritime security, critical minerals, cyber security, clean energy and supply chains, as prime minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during his visit to Australia.

Modi arrived in Australia from Indonesia in the second leg of his three-nation tour, which is focused on strengthening trade and defence ties. Following their talks, the two leaders unveiled an India-Australia Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, a joint statement on energy cooperation and a roadmap covering cyber security, critical technologies and supply chains.

Here is everything announced during the visit.

Defence and security partnership

India and Australia issued a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, reaffirming their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020 and committing to strengthen defence collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.

Addressing the joint press meet with PM Albanese.@AlboMP https://t.co/CZ96A4au2x

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2026

Both countries agreed to:

• Consult on defence-related developments in the Indo-Pacific affecting shared interests.
• Increase the complexity of defence exercises, including with partners.
• Accelerate interoperability and information sharing between their defence forces.
• Expand aircraft deployments from each other’s territories.
• Deepen exchanges, education, training and liaison roles for defence personnel.
• Explore cooperation in recruiting skilled defence workforces.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation through an India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.

Uranium exports agreement

Australia and India also finalised an arrangement to facilitate Australian uranium exports to India for use in the nuclear energy industry.

India has long sought access to Australia’s uranium reserves as it works towards its target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047. Australia, meanwhile, is seeking to diversify trade beyond its reliance on China, its largest trading partner.

Although the two countries signed a civil nuclear cooperation pact in 2014, uranium exports have remained limited because of concerns over ensuring nuclear fuel is used only for peaceful purposes such as energy generation.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Australia and India are close partners and even closer friends.”

He added:

“The arrangement facilitates Australian uranium exports to India to help increase the share of non-fossil fuel power capacity, providing an additional market for the Australian resources sector.”

India-Australia meetings are much like cricket:

The agenda is as focused as a One-Day International.

The decisions are as fast as T20 cricket.

The partnership is as long-lasting and deep as a Test match. pic.twitter.com/ENW5w9KNXM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2026

Energy and critical minerals

The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in:

Renewable energy
Critical minerals
Green hydrogen
Clean energy technologies

Modi said Australia’s technology, capital and resources could help accelerate India’s energy transition and also indicated possible cooperation in low-carbon aluminium projects.

He said:

“We have historic opportunities to cooperate in this field.”

Addressing Australia’s business community, Modi added:

“India provides a safe, stable and sustainable growth option for your funds.”

Infrastructure investment

Modi urged Australian businesses to invest for the long term in India’s road, port, rail and urban infrastructure projects.

Addressed the Australia-India CEO Forum in Melbourne this morning. Since 2023, this forum has gained remarkable momentum, reflecting the growing confidence in our economic partnership.

I thank PM Anthony Albanese for joining the interaction and sharing his vision for taking our… pic.twitter.com/6GDcsAkJUv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2026

AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest pension fund, announced it would invest an additional A$500 million ($347 million) in India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.

Cyber, technology and supply chains

India and Australia also unveiled a roadmap for cooperation in cyber security, critical technologies and supply chains.

Under the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (Australia-India PACTS), both countries committed to strengthening cooperation and information sharing on cyber security and strategic technologies.

Maritime cooperation

Recognising the importance of the maritime domain to their defence, security and economic interests, both countries agreed to increase the depth, sophistication and regularity of maritime security cooperation through a dedicated India-Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.

Counter-terrorism

India and Australia committed to increasing information sharing on terrorist threats in the region and exploring greater cooperation against violent extremism and terrorism in areas including:

• New and emerging technology
• Terrorism financing
• Critical infrastructure and crowded spaces
• Maritime security
• Online radicalisation
• Indo-Pacific commitment

The Joint Declaration reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to an open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific based on international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and overflight under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and effective regional institutions.

The declaration also reaffirmed support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN and ASEAN-centred regional architecture, and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Both countries committed to expanding cooperation with the United States of America and Japan, as well as through the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Humanitarian and disaster response

India and Australia agreed to deepen cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), including:

• Information sharing and expert exchanges.
• Joint HADR exercises, including the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network.
• Exploring contingency planning, joint response and coordination during disasters and crises, including evacuation operations in third countries.

Migration and organised crime

The two countries said they would continue cooperation under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement signed in 2023, including efforts to prevent irregular migration, people smuggling and trafficking in human beings, while also continuing cooperation against transnational organised crime.

Nuclear disarmament

The Joint Declaration reiterated both countries’ commitment to non-proliferation and to a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons through global, complete, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.

Modi’s Australia visit

During the visit, Albanese described Modi as a “living bridge” between Australia and India, saying his vision had helped reshape Australia’s economic engagement with India.

India is Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner after China, Japan, the U.S. and South Korea. Around one million people in Australia claim Indian ancestry out of the country’s population of 28 million.

Modi, who previously visited Australia in 2023, was scheduled to address thousands of expatriate Indians at a stadium event in Melbourne on Thursday evening.

Before arriving in Australia, Modi visited Indonesia, where he signed a series of agreements covering agriculture and defence, including the BrahMos cruise missile system. He is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on Friday afternoon before returning to India.