Experts from Australia, India and Indonesia met in Canberra today for a high-level maritime security dialogue to discuss how the three countries can create closer defence and security ties to promote peace, stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
Australian Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon. Peter Khalil MP provided a keynote address at the Dialogue to emphasise the importance of the trilateral working together on shared maritime security challenges.
"Entities like the Australia India Institute play a key role in contributing to the public debate by exploring the challenges facing Australia and our region and advancing public understanding of strategic policy," the Assistant Minister for Defence the Hon. Peter Khalil MP said in a statement.
"This Dialogue has the potential to shape the future of Australia's approach to trilateral engagement, providing insights and identifying opportunities, as well as exploring the challenges to cooperation."
The 1.5 track Dialogue explored key areas of collaboration between Australia, India, and Indonesia, including strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness, safeguarding marine environments and building maritime regional governance with a focus on the Indian Ocean region.
Director of Security and Geopolitics at the Australia India Institute, Dr Samuel Bashfield said the discussions covered joint initiatives such as joint sails, hydrography, technical interoperability, and combined maritime surveillance to enhance information-sharing and operational coordination.
"The importance of coordinated responses to maritime threats, seabed infrastructure protection, and climate change mitigation should not be underestimated, given the growing challenges these issues present to regional security," Dr Samuel said.
The Dialogue, hosted by the Australia India Institute and supported by the Department of Defence heard from eminent speakers from the three countries including the High Commissioner of India to Australia, H.E. Mr Gopal Baglay, the Hon. Tim Watts MP, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Ms Edna Caroline, co-founder of Indonesian Defence Studies, Vice Admiral Anil Chawla, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Defense Research in India and CEO of the Australia India Institute Lisa Singh.
The Australia India Institute (AII), is the University of Melbourne's centre dedicated to promoting support for and understanding of the Australia-India relationship.
