Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green on Monday reaffirmed Canberra's support for India's territorial integrity and outlined plans to deepen cooperation in defence, education, and other key sectors. Speaking to ANI, Green identified three pillars driving the bilateral relationship: defence and security, complementary economies, and the growing Indian diaspora, now exceeding one million in Australia.
Defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean
Green indicated that the two leaders may announce enhanced defence collaboration, particularly in areas where strategic interests overlap. "Perhaps where it matters most is where Australia and India's strategic geography overlap. And that is in the Indian Ocean," he said, adding that the leaders might discuss working more closely in that domain.
Trade and energy security
The High Commissioner highlighted that India's exports to Australia have grown by 200% over the past five years—five times faster than exports to the rest of the world. Against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict, both countries are focusing on energy security. Green noted existing flows of coal, diesel, aviation fuel, and LNG, and said conversations would explore maximising bilateral benefits from energy trade.
Education as a priority sector
Education has been identified as one of four priority areas for expanding bilateral cooperation, alongside agriculture and food, tourism, and the green energy supply chain. Green urged Indian students to submit complete visa applications to expedite processing, stating, "What is important for us is that we continue to get a good flow of high-quality Indian students who make a big contribution to our educational life."
Khalistani extremism and territorial integrity
On the issue of Khalistani extremism, Green asserted that Australia does not support the separatist movement. "Australia has no truck with Khalistani separatist movement. We support an India of territorial integrity," he said, adding that Australia takes seriously India's concerns about the security of its diplomatic premises and expects Prime Minister Modi's visit to proceed smoothly. He acknowledged that peaceful protests are part of Australia's democratic framework but expressed confidence in a smooth visit.
