India and Australia have reinforced their military ties with the signing of three key defence agreements during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official visit to Canberra on October 8-9, 2025. The accords, signed in the presence of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, aim to deepen operational cooperation, trust, and strategic alignment between the two armed forces. Among these agreements are an Information Sharing Agreement, a MoU on Submarine Search and Rescue Cooperation, and Terms of Reference establishing Joint Staff Talks. India also offered to service and repair Royal Australian Navy ships at Indian shipyards in the Indian Ocean region, enhancing maritime security collaboration. The visit marked the first by an Indian defence minister to Australia in over a decade and coincided with the fifth anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides emphasized their shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, reflecting broader Quad alliance cooperation and Australia’s AUKUS nuclear submarine program. Australia hailed the pact as a “hugely significant step” towards greater military interoperability and information exchange, strengthening bilateral defence ties further.