India is changing and Australia is not paying attention
The days of making easy distinctions between security and economics and a democratic India and authoritarian China are long gone. India is changing in ways that may push it more towards rather than away from China.
With bilateral trade negotiations stalling and India choosing not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, attention has shifted away from economics and towards defence and security co-operation as the key to building a closer relationship between Australia and India.
This year, the two governments plan to sign a logistics-sharing agreement that will allow for reciprocal military access to facilities and operational support. Potential agreements for information sharing and maritime co-operation will facilitate greater military co-operation in the Indian Ocean.
