India, Australia to expand defence cooperation

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) India and Australia today agreed to expand cooperation in security and defence, training, maritime cooperation, defence industries and defence research and development.

An MoU signed between the two countries also envisages setting up of India-Australia Joint Working Group on defence for guiding and monitoring the on-going defence cooperation.

The MoU was signed by Defence secretary Shekhar Dutt and Australian High Commissioner to India John McCarthy in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Australian counterpart John Howard.

India and Australia share common interests in the stability of Asia Pacific region, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, fight against international terrorism, and ensuring security of sea lanes of communication in the region.

The signing of the MoU is seen as the realisation of the need for developing close and constructive defence cooperation in areas of common interest between the two countries.

UNI YJ YA PC2048