India and Australia forge closer maritime co-operation
Australia and India elevated their bilateral Strategic Partnership of 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through a virtual summit held between Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi on 4 June.
The major outcome of the exchange is linked to ‘a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to increase military interoperability’ through defence exercises and a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) that gives access to each other’s bases and other military facilities.
India will benefit particularly from fuel tankers at sea, berthing and maintenance at Australian bases, as well as training and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. The MLSA helps
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