India and Australia have issued a strong joint condemnation of terrorism, calling on all countries to unite against the threat without any double standards. The stance was announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a press conference in Melbourne on Thursday, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
Leaders Emphasize Unified Front Against Terrorism
Misri stated that both leaders unequivocally condemned the scourge of terrorism and stressed the importance of all nations joining forces to combat it. They called for action against anyone involved in terrorism in any manner. The discussions also referenced recent horrific terrorist incidents that have impacted both countries, highlighting a complete meeting of minds on approaches to communication, handling, and capacity building to address this challenge.
The situation in West Asia was also discussed, with Prime Minister Modi reiterating India's desire for sustained peace in the region. Misri noted that the leaders exchanged perspectives on regional and multilateral matters of mutual interest, including shared concerns such as terrorism and violent extremism.
Quad and Security Cooperation Reinforced
Both leaders reiterated their support for the Quad, identifying it as a key mechanism to respond to pressing regional challenges, including infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-terrorism.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, along with an India-Australia maritime security collaboration roadmap. Misri explained that these documents recognize the need for the partnership to evolve with changing strategic circumstances and reflect a commitment to advancing defence and security ties.
Energy Cooperation and Uranium Supply Agreement
The Prime Ministers also recognized the central role of industry-led partnerships and strategic investments in deepening cooperation for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply. Modi noted that India is an important supplier of downstream petroleum products to Australia, while Australia remains a long-standing supplier of coal and natural gas.
A significant outcome of the visit is the administrative arrangement for enabling the supply of uranium from Australia to India, building on the 2014 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. Misri called this a major step in fulfilling India's clean energy transition ambitions and shared objectives toward a net-zero economy.
