India and Australia on Thursday launched the India-Australia Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), a new strategic framework to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity, critical technologies, digital resilience, defence research, and resilient supply chains across the Indo-Pacific. The partnership succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation, building on the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and two decades of collaboration in research, operational coordination, and policy engagement.
Key Objectives of PACTS
The declaration states: "Recognising that supply chains, critical technology and cyber security drive economic growth, are central to national security and can be used to shape values and global norms, Australia and India will build on our pre-existing foundations and elevate our bilateral ambition under an 'Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS)', succeeding and replacing the 2020 Framework." It adds that PACTS "aims to support our shared interest in national and regional security, empower our partners with greater digital choices, make critical supply chains more resilient, and strengthen global cyber resilience."
Guiding Principles
Highlighting the guiding principles, the declaration says: "Safety, security, resilience, inclusivity for all, and shared democratic values will be built into every stage of our efforts under the partnership, demonstrating our countries' commitment to being responsible technology leaders."
Five Pillars of Cooperation
The partnership is structured around five pillars of cooperation.
Supply Chain Resilience and Diversification
Under this pillar, India and Australia will develop a bilateral trusted vendor framework, strengthen cooperation on secure undersea cable connectivity through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, collaborate on semiconductor supply chain research, develop secure critical minerals supply chains, and promote greater commercial collaboration and technology trade.
Critical Technology
This pillar focuses on artificial intelligence, space technologies, telecommunications, biotechnology, and advanced materials. The two countries will work to advance "international standards and benchmarks for trustworthy, safe and secure AI" through "consensus-driven, multistakeholder frameworks grounded in democratic values", while expanding research partnerships and exploring joint space initiatives.
Cybersecurity
Under the Cybersecurity pillar, both sides will establish a streamlined bilateral mechanism in cyber and ICT fields, strengthen cooperation in UN-mandated cyber processes, enhance dialogue on data governance and cybersecurity, increase trade and investment opportunities in cyber technologies, conduct joint cybersecurity workshops, and create "a cyber tech skill incubator hub for growth and exchange of critical skills."
Digital Resilience
Through the Digital Resilience pillar, India and Australia will support new partnerships on India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) principles, scale affordable DPI solutions across the Indo-Pacific in sectors including clean energy, healthcare, education, and social protection, and facilitate pilot projects to build locally adaptable digital ecosystems.
Defence Research Collaboration
This pillar will deepen cooperation between Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), strengthen dialogue through existing defence mechanisms, facilitate ties between defence innovation ecosystems and start-ups, and focus joint research on maritime surveillance and advanced materials for defence applications.
Governance and Review Mechanism
The partnership will be jointly chaired by the Australian Deputy Secretary of the International and Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Indian Deputy National Security Advisor. An annual Senior Officials' Meeting will review progress, assess emerging cyber and critical technology risks, and work towards "mutual identification of specific projects under each pillar of cooperation."
