Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between India and Australia 

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between India and Australia 

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – International Relations

In News:

• India and Australia raised their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) after a ‘virtual’ summit held recently between Prime Ministers of the two countries. 

Key takeaways 

• 9 agreements were concluded though the summit. 
• Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was also concluded. 
• A joint declaration was also issued on a Shared Vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. 
• MLSA will allow both militaries the reciprocal use of bases, humanitarian and disaster relief cooperation, port exercises, and passage exercises. 
• Other agreements included:
  • A framework arrangement on cyber technology
  • An MoU on mining and processing critical and strategic minerals including Australian rare earth metals used for electronics
  • Governance
  • Vocational training 
  • Water management.
• It was also decided to recommence the talks on India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) which has been suspended since 2015. 

Important value additions 

• India has signed CSPs with the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. 
• Australia has CSPs with China, Indonesia and Singapore. 
• CSP would raise the level of trust required to improve the trade and investment flows between India and Australia.