From cricket rivals to besties: PM declares India a ‘top security partner’

Anthony Albanese has overseen a deal between major Australian and Indian investors in a landmark trip that will conclude in San Diego with an AUKUS submarines deal.

‘Working together’ … Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave to spectators in Ahmedabad ahead of the fourth Test. Picture: AFP

Anthony Albanese has boosted military ties with India, declaring it a “top tier” security partner in a visit to the Western Naval Command in the state of Maharashtra where he became the only foreign leader to board the first Indian-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

The Prime Minister said plans were in place for India to participate for the first time in Australia’s biennial Exercise Talisman Sabre later in the year - an event which involves thousands of troops on land, sea and in the air.

The war games, which are led by either Australia or the US, include the use of major assets such as warships, fighters, bombers and artillery. In 2017, New Zealand, Japanese and Canadian forces participated.

Mr Albanese declared that his trip reflected his government’s growing “commitment to place India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”

He argued that the security partnership between Australia and India was “of increasing strategic importance as we navigate the challenges of our region together.”

“For Australia, India is a top tier security partner,” he said. “The Indian Ocean is central to both countries’ security and prosperity.”

Mr Albanese said that there had “never been a point in both of our country’s histories where we’ve had such a strong strategic alignment” and flagged greater military engagement.

“Last year, we conducted more exercises, operations and dialogues than ever before.

“In a major step forward in our relationship, India and Australia undertook Maritime Patrol Aircraft deployments to each other’s territories for the first time.

In November alone we conducted increasingly complex and sophisticated exercises in Indo-Pacific Endeavour and Exercise Austrahind.”

He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had the insight to “see the relationship not only for what it is, but what it could be.”

“I’d like to thank him today … for his dedication in driving forward our defence and security partnership.”

Mr Albanese said that 2023 would be “busier than ever” for defence cooperation and that engagement between both nations was increasingly complex to reflect the high-end nature of modern military engagements.

“Australia will host (in 2023) Exercise Malabar for the first time and India will – also for the first time – participate in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercise,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seated beside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of the Fourth Test match in the series between India and Australia at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.

The Vikrant still remains in the testing phase and the Indian Navy is hopeful that it will be operational by the end of 2023.

It is the second of two aircraft carriers in the Indian Navy’s fleet, the other being the INS Vikramaditya — a Soviet cruiser provided by the Russian government.

There are 11 aircraft on board the Vikrant while it’s being tested - including 3 Russian MIG-29Ks and 4 Sea King helicopters.

PM strikes four-year agreement with major Indian business groups

Mr Albanese also oversaw a new four-year agreement ­between Australian and Indian ­business groups, bringing ­together the largest investors from both nations, on the first day of a landmark overseas trip that will conclude in San Diego with the announcement of an AUKUS submarines deal.

The Prime Minister hailed the deal upgrading Australia’s economic relationship with India after lapping the largest cricket ground in the world alongside his counterpart Narendra Modi in an open-air vehicle resembling a modern-day chariot.

Thousands of ecstatic spectators in Ahmedabad were chanting the name of the Indian Prime Minister – “Mo-di, Mo-di” – while a smiling Mr Albanese took in the spectacle and tried to chat to his Indian counterpart above the din.

When the lap of honour was completed, Mr Albanese and Mr Modi stayed on the field with the players to join in the opening of the fourth Test match between Australia and India to mark 75 years of cricketing rivalry.

Wrapping his arm around the shoulders of Australian captain Steve Smith before the match to sing the national anthem in front of at least 50,000 people, Mr Albanese said the welcome extended to him was “a highlight of my life”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alongside Test captain Steve Smith for the Australian national anthem on Thursday in India. Picture: Kayo

“It was an incredible experience,” he said before jetting off to Mumbai for the next leg of his ­Indian tour.

“We are competing on the field with India to be the best in the world, but we are working together off the field for a better world.”

Mr Albanese’s and Mr Modi’s lap of the ground recognised a shared past and cultural connection between Australia and India, but symbolised a new attempt to deepen co-operation into the ­future across the spectrum of economic, trade, political and security relations.

In Mumbai, the Prime Minister attended a chief executive roundtable attended by more than 45 business leaders from both India and Australia, with Mr Albanese declaring that there were “serious CEOs of major Australian companies” who had made the journey as part of a high-powered delegation – the most senior he had ever seen leave Australian shores.

Anthony Albanese, left, and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal greet each other in Mumbai on Thursday. Picture: AFP

He said he was hopeful both nations were taking a “first step in an era of unprecedented growth”, and argued there were opportunities opening up across finance, resources, energy, health, information technology and the university sectors.

“Towards the end of this year I’m looking forward to an upgrade in the economic relationship between Australia and India,” Mr Albanese said.

The Business Council of Australia announced it had secured the new agreement with the Confederation of Indian Industry at the beginning of the roundtable aimed at fostering new and stronger relationships between both nations.

BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said India-­Australia trade presented a “massive opportunity” and warned the economic relationship had been “underdone” for too long.

“The Prime Minister’s decision to make this critical visit happen is hugely significant,” Ms Westacott said. “This delegation puts some of the biggest investors and largest businesses from Australia in the room with political and business leaders from both nations.

“There’s a reason the Australian delegation is so senior and so significant; this is the right place at the right time.”

(L-R) Chief Executive of Business Council of Australia (BCA) Jennifer Westacott, High Commissioner of Australia to India Barry O' Farrell, Minister for Resources of Australia Madeleine King, Australian Senator and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee and High Commissioner of India to Australia Manpreet Vohra pose after signing a partnership agreement at a meeting in Mumbai.

Ms Westacott said India would be critical to realising Australia’s ambitions in “clean energy, critical minerals and education, and Australia has the products and services India needs to keep growing”.

“This can’t be about a fleeting visit every few years – Australia and our businesses are aiming for ongoing engagement and to build the relationships we need to keep it going,” she said.

“For Australia, this trip isn’t just about gaining a slice of a massive market; we have to send the message that we’re open to investment.”

Mr Albanese told the roundtable it was his first visit to India as Prime Minister, saying it was very different from the backpacking tour he undertook in 1991 and joked he had “brought my own plane this time”.

He also said there was “enormous potential” to build on the relationship.

“You are Australia’s sixth-largest trading partner. We can do so much better than that in the future I have no doubt,” Mr Albanese said.

“In the past seven years we’ve seen our two-way trade double … (but) we can do so much more.”

The agreement commits the employer groups to “mutually assist and contribute to the expanding of commercial ties, investment, and economic co-operation between the businesses of the two countries – including opportunities in the manufacturing and selected services sectors”.

It also commits business groups to an annual India-Australia CEO Forum, where possible and by mutual agreement.

Mr Albanese also focused on defence and the growing military relationship with Mr Modi’s government. He visited India’s Western Naval Command in the state of Maharashtra where he became the only foreign leader to board the INS Vikrant, the first Indian-built aircraft carrier.

He declared his trip reflected his government’s growing “commitment to place India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond”.

Mr Albanese argued that the security partnership between Australia and India was “of increasing strategic importance”.

With the leaders due to meet in New Delhi on Friday, Mr Modi joked that the mood in the room could be determined by how play had unfolded on the first day of the cricket Test.

Mr Albanese said that 2023 would be “busier than ever” for defence co-operation and that engagement between both nations was increasingly complex to reflect the high-end nature of modern military engagements.

“Australia will host (in 2023) Exercise Malabar for the first time and India will – also for the first time – participate in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercise,” he said.