The 6th India-Australia Maritime Security Dialogue took place recently in Canberra, reinforcing the commitment of both nations to maritime cooperation. The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary, Disarmament & International Security Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs. On the Australian side, Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary, South Asia & Central Asia Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy, Department of Defence, headed the discussions.
The dialogue focused on maintaining a secure maritime environment to support inclusive growth and global well-being. Both sides exchanged views on a range of topics, including:
• Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) coordination
• Regional and multilateral maritime engagements
• Sustainable use of marine resources, covering the blue economy, pollution response, Search and Rescue (SAR), and Port State control
They also explored ways to enhance bilateral cooperation across these areas and discussed future collaboration under the maritime ecology pillar of the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI).
Both sides agreed to convene the next round of the dialogue at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi.