Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The discussions were centered around strengthening bilateral cooperation, addressing regional security concerns, and reinforcing the long-standing strategic ties between the two nations.
During the meeting, PM Albanese conveyed his condolences to PM Modi over the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and the tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia that claimed several Indian lives. Albanese had arrived in Johannesburg earlier in the day and emphasized solidarity with India during these difficult incidents.
Sharing insights from the meeting, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X that he had “a great meeting” with his Australian counterpart. He highlighted that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the India–Australia Strategic Partnership – a period that has seen significant expansion across multiple areas of cooperation.
Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation.
During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors,… pic.twitter.com/SjPixu4iek
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025
“We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong,” Albanese said, noting the depth and maturity of the partnership. He added that defense and security cooperation would continue to remain core pillars while expressing confidence in strengthening economic engagement even further.
Key Areas of India–Australia Cooperation
| Sector | Focus Areas | Recent Developments |
|---|---|---|
| Defense & Security | Maritime cooperation, Indo-Pacific stability, joint military exercises | Enhanced naval exercises and increased intelligence sharing |
| Economic Engagement | Trade expansion, investment flows, renewable energy collaboration | Steady growth in bilateral trade; discussions on new trade frameworks |
| Strategic Partnership | Technology, critical minerals, education, and people-to-people ties | Multiple high-level exchanges over the past year |
Both leaders agreed that the relationship has gained significant momentum due to frequent high-level visits and dialogues. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to advancing the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The meeting followed discussions between Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. The two ministers co-chaired the 16th India–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue (FMFD), where they reviewed progress across all pillars of the strategic partnership.
Meanwhile, Prabhat Kumar, India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, emphasized that several priorities championed during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 continue to influence the Johannesburg Summit agenda. These include food security, digital public infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and disaster resilience.
“South Africa has advanced these themes, and the Summit document reflects strong language supporting them,” Kumar said, adding that Prime Minister Modi would highlight these priorities during his interventions.
India previously held the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023, culminating in the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest India on thefoxdaily.com.
COMMENTS 0