On Thursday, Australia and India have made joint military deals and, in their initial step in deepening of the defense relations, which is between 2 Indo Pacific powers, reported by both countries’ statements.
The agreements were declared after a virtual meeting between prime ministers Narendra Modi of India and Scott Morrison of Australia.
The prime minister of India said that India is widely and quickly committed to empowering its relations with Australia. That’s not only crucial for our two countries, even for the Indo-Pacific area and all around the world.
India and Australia sign two bilateral military agreements in the “first step in deepening of the defense relationship” between the two Indo-Pacific powers, according to statements from both countries. https://t.co/CZDFHEg5M9
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) June 5, 2020
On the other hand, the prime minister of Australia said that we are intended to open, prosperous, inclusive Indo Pacific, and the role of India in that region, our region, will be serious in the upcoming years.
New deal arrives due to emerging tensions between India-China border
The new agreements have appeared when military pressures ramp up in the Indo Pacific area, which holds in the South China Sea, where China had secured its place on disputed islands.
A combined conference statement said both nations that share an aim of free, inclusive, open, and rules and regulations dependent Indo Pacific region to help the freedom of navigation, peaceful and overflight, and co-operative use of the seas.
The pacts commit the two nations to develop military integration via more complex training and permit them access to use each other’s bases for logistical help.
China declares nearly the whole South China 1.3 million square miles sea as its personal, despite the fact that some other claimants are holding boundaries which are close to the disputed water. Moreover, a court in The Hague directed China has no right to claim historic rights to the majority of the South China Sea.
Australia held long-standing security ties with America and has managed longer in the South China Sea, structuring airborne surveillance patrol since 1980, reported by the Lowy Institute.
In April, Australian battleship even visits the region regularly, and also participated in the training with the United States warships.
Furthermore, Indian warships linked with Japanese, Philippine, and the United States naval vessels in a path of the South China Sea.
At the same time, India has been ramping up its defense collaboration with the U.S., which also includes annual Malabar naval trainings, which joined Indian and United States militaries along with the Self Defense Forces of Japan.
Last month, Barry O’Farrell, the Australian High Commissioner to India, described in an interview that Canberra would be eager to join Malabar trainings.
Thursday’s deal occurred amid accelerated tensions between China and India border in the Himalayan Mountains.
