Several Australian families and companies have had a deep impact on India, since the early days of its economic reformation – from telecom to entertainment. Now, with the two countries enjoined by a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, it’s time to step it up and deepen common agendas on hard issues, from regulation on big tech to entertainment ecosystems to sports and stadium management.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed in 2020 to boost defence and security ties and enhance trade and investments. But the foundations had been laid earlier in 2009, when India and Australia elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. The bilateral has evolved significantly, making Australia one of the most stable partners in a rapidly changing global order.

U.S. President Trump will meet Russian President Putin on August 15. A positive outcome may mean removal of punitive U.S. tariffs on India for buying Russian oil and resolving its dilemma of placating a partner country with growing commercial, geopolitical and defence ties, or pursuing strategic autonomy, keeping its old friends and take an economic hit? Is Russia the red line for India?

The July 2 meeting of the QUAD foreign ministers in Washington, D.C., restated all the commitments of the grouping, including a condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attacks on Pahalgam. Yet, none of the QUAD countries actually came to the aid of India, despite China being a present player in the fight, in full support of its partner Pakistan.

The India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will be signed this year. It will complete a unique, two-part trade agreement that will bring India into global trade regimes in a calibrated manner, and with a helping hand. For Australia, with its deep global trading knowledge and pragmatic approach to such agreements, gaining it first-mover advantage in India’s large market is a major win

The India-Australia bilateral is one of the most promising new partnerships within India’s circle of trusted countries. It is multi-dimensional and modern, ranging from enhanced people-to-people ties, to deepening government engagement, to futuristic technology and digital services. The free trade agreement can be a model for others seeking similar ties with India.

New global economic, military and political alliances are taking shape, and call for like-minded nations to calibrate their strategic, long term interests. The new India-Australia economic trade agreement is reflective of this. It also folds in a critical element: wide cooperation in cyber security, which now impacts the economy, democratic institutions and warfare. India has much to learn from Australia’s low key but smart cyber expertise.

The U.S.-China trade dispute and Australia’s concerns about China’s growing influence in its internal affairs and the neighbourhood present an opportunity for New Delhi and Canberra to step up their security engagement, bilaterally, and in the Indo-Pacific

The India-Australia civil nuclear deal goes much beyond providing for India’s energy needs. The deal will help New Delhi’s bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other technology control regimes. The ties with Canberra also have the potential to develop into a strong strategic partnership

This week Prime Minister Modi will meet his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott for the second time in two months. New Delhi and Canberra have already signed a civil nuclear deal which will supply much needed uranium to India’s reactors and remove a big thorn in the relationship between the two nations. The deal is the pivot to take the bilateral forward