India and Australia sign ToR to promote peace in Indo-Pacific region

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Indian Navy have signed terms of reference (ToR) to conduct navy-to-navy talks and promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo – Pacific region.

It follows the signing of “Joint Guidance for the India – Australia Navy-to-Navy Relationship” document between the two navies last month.

The signing ceremony was held virtually between Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh, ACNS (FCI), IN and Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, DCNS, RAN. The document is the first of its kind that the Indian Navy has signed with any other country.

“The document underpins the broad objective of deeper mutual understanding, trust and transparency, improved goodwill and understanding of each other’s concerns and future directions, and provides detailed guidance for the conduct of IN-RAN N2N Talks. It also provides flexibility for implementation of separate agreements based on the specific outcomes of the talks,” the navy stated.

The “Joint Guidance” document sets forth the Navy to Navy (N2N) Talks as the ‘Principal’ medium for the guiding the bilateral relationship.

The inaugural navy-to-navy talks started in 2005. Since then, the two nations and navies have continued to grow closer at all levels and with over a decade of bilateral talks, they remain committed to strengthen and deepen this relationship.

“The bilateral defence relations between India and Australia have strengthened over the years. ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, conduct of trilateral Maritime Security Workshop and RAN participation in Exercise MALABAR are significant milestones which underline the role played by both Navies in bolstering this relationship in recent times,” according to navy’s officials.

“The document underpins the broad objective of deeper mutual understanding, trust and transparency, improved goodwill and understanding of each other’s concerns and future directions, and provides detailed guidance for the conduct of IN – RAN N2N Talks. It also provides flexibility for implementation of separate agreements based on the specific outcomes of the Talks.”

The announcement of the cooperation between the two navies comes after Australia unveiled its plans to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under a new Indo-Pacific security partnership with the United States and Britain, AUKUS.