UPSC Articles
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.