India and Australia discuss strengthening joint defence efforts in meeting between the two countries.

Over the weekend, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh engaged in bilateral discussions with his Australian counterpart, Meghan Quinn, during his visit to Singapore. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, was a fruitful one as both sides reviewed the progress of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also took the opportunity to discuss upcoming high-level engagements and explore opportunities to further strengthen their defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

According to a statement released by the Defence Ministry, the discussion between Defence Secretary Singh and Ms. Quinn was a positive one. They exchanged views and ideas on how to enhance their bilateral defence partnership and explored potential avenues for deeper collaboration.

The ministry also added that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing peace, security, and stability with their trusted partners in the region. During his visit to Singapore, Singh also met with other important figures, including Canada's Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Kelvin Brosseau, and Seychelles' Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Micheal Rosette. The discussions with these officials focused on strengthening defence cooperation and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Defence Ministry emphasized India's commitment to constructive engagement and collaboration with its partners in the region. The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is currently taking place in Singapore, provides a platform for government ministers and delegations to engage in plenary debates and bilateral discussions. It is a significant event that allows for the exchange of ideas and the strengthening of relationships among key players in the region.

During the dialogue, Singh also met with leading think tanks and academia to discuss various topics such as strengthening the Indo-Pacific security architecture, defence industrial collaboration, and emerging technology partnerships. He also addressed a distinguished gathering on "India's Defence Diplomacy for a Stable, Secure, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific," where he shared India's vision for regional security and strategic engagement. High Commissioner of India to Singapore, Dr.

Shilpak Ambule, also participated in the discussion. On Thursday, Singh visited the Digital Operations Technology Centre of the Digital and Intelligence Service of the Singapore Armed Forces. The visit provided valuable insights into Singapore's advanced digital and technical capabilities and explored potential areas for collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces in niche and emerging domains of warfare.

The Defence Secretary's visit also included co-chairing the 16th Defence Policy Dialogue with his Singaporean counterpart, Joseph Leong. The dialogue reaffirmed the strong bilateral defence partnership between India and Singapore, and discussions were held on various areas of defence cooperation, security collaboration, and ways to further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two nations. Overall, Singh's visit to Singapore was a successful one, with meaningful discussions and exchanges that will contribute to the advancement of India's defence diplomacy and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.