In a significant diplomatic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a groundbreaking trilateral technology partnership with Australia and Canada during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg. The announcement came following a crucial meeting between the three leaders on Saturday, marking a new chapter in international technological cooperation.
Historic Trilateral Meeting at G20
The landmark meeting occurred on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Prime Minister Modi convened with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This high-level discussion paved the way for what has been officially named the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership.
Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi expressed his enthusiasm about the new collaboration. "A new trilateral technology and innovation partnership! Had an excellent meeting with Mr. Anthony Albanese, PM of Australia and Mr. Mark Carney, PM of Canada on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg," he stated.
Strategic Importance of the Partnership
The ACITI Partnership holds particular strategic significance given that both Australia and Canada are members of the prestigious "Five Eyes" intelligence network, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. This membership provides them access to cutting-edge technology and sensitive information that could benefit the trilateral collaboration.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs statement released following the meeting, the partnership will focus on several key areas including critical and emerging technologies, green energy innovation, resilient supply chains, and artificial intelligence adoption. The initiative aims to leverage the natural strengths of each participating nation while complementing existing bilateral agreements.
Key Focus Areas and Implementation
The partnership outlines specific areas of cooperation that include supporting the diversification of supply chains, advancing clean energy technologies, and promoting mass adoption of artificial intelligence. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the collaboration will particularly examine critical minerals and building resilient supply chains.
Officials from the three countries are scheduled to convene in the first quarter of 2026 to advance the initiative. This timeline aligns with India's planned hosting of the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, providing an additional platform for showcasing the partnership's early achievements.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the broader vision behind the partnership, noting that "The initiative will deepen collaboration between democratic partners across three continents and three oceans in emerging technologies." He further emphasized their collective commitment to "working together to guarantee a better future for the coming generations."
The ACITI Partnership represents a significant step in global technology governance, bringing together three major democracies from different continents to address shared technological challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.
