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.
