Framework for Security Cooperation between India and Australia

The Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Australia reaffirm that the Strategic Partnership between India and Australia is based on converging political, economic and strategic interests; a shared desire to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity; and a commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.

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They have decided to establish a Framework for Security Cooperation to reflect the deepening and expanding security and defence engagement between India and Australia, and to intensify cooperation and consultation between Australia and India in areas of mutual interest. The Framework will be implemented in accordance with the Action Plan below:

Action Plan

1. Annual Summit and Foreign Policy Exchanges and Coordination

a. Annual meeting of Prime Ministers, including in the margins of multilateral meetings
b. Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue
c. Senior Officials’ Talks led by India’s Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
d. East Asia Talks between External/Foreign Affairs senior officials
e. 1.5 Track Australia-India Dialogue

2. Defence policy planning and coordination

a. Regular Defence Ministers’ Meeting
b. Annual Defence Policy Talks
c. Annual 1.5 Track Defence Strategic Dialogue
d. Service to service engagement including regular high-level visits, annual staff talks, joint training and regular exercises as agreed
e. Regular bilateral maritime exercises
f. Explore defence research and development cooperation, including through visits by Australian and Indian defence material delegations and efforts to foster joint industry links

3. Counter-terrorism and other Transnational Crimes

a. Annual Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and other Transnational Crimes
b. Cooperation in CT training and exchanges between experts on countering improvised explosive devices, bomb incidents and technologies
c. Exchanges on counter-radicalisation
d. Cooperation between police on investigation of transnational crime
e. Cooperation on extradition and mutual legal assistance requests
f. Cooperation between AUSTRAC and Financial Intelligence Unit-India
g. Exchanges on cyber policy and cooperation between CERT India and CERT Australia
h. Cooperation on combating illegal migration

4. Border Protection, Coast Guard, and Customs

a. Annual meetings of the Joint Working Group on Visas, Passports and Consular Matters
b. Exchanges and cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and Australian border protection authorities
c. Cooperation between Customs authorities, including training

5. Disarmament, Non-proliferation, Civil Nuclear Energy and Maritime Security

a. Annual bilateral dialogue on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and International Security, including maritime security
b. Australian support for Indian membership of the export control regimes
c. Early operationalization of civil nuclear energy cooperation and Australia’s support for strengthening India’s energy security by supply of uranium for India’s safeguarded nuclear reactors
d. Cooperation between agencies engaged on international search and rescue, including through information exchange and regional dialogue
e. Cooperation on these issues in relevant international fora, including the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum

6. Disaster management and peacekeeping

a. Exchange on approaches to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
b. Collaboration in the East Asia Summit on disaster management
c. Cooperation and exchanges on peacekeeping issues, including between peacekeeping institutions

7. Cooperation in Regional and Multilateral Fora

a. Close cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, including the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the UN and its specialised agencies, and the G20
b. Support for India’s bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council

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Implementation

Progress under the Action Plan will be reviewed through established institutional arrangements, including the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue and the Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Australia (16-18 November, 2014)

No.	Title	Indian signatory	Australian signatory	Remarks
1.	Agreement on Social Security	Biren Nanda, High Commissioner	Kevin Andrews, Minister for Social Services	To strengthen the people-to-people contacts and facilitate and regulate the regulations between the two countries with respect to social security benefits and coverage. It will provide for social security and superannuation benefits for those who have been residents of the other country on basis of equality of benefit, export of benefits and avoidance of double coverage. It will lead to greater economies and promote the flow of professionals.
2.	Agreement concerning Transfer of Sentenced Persons	Biren Nanda, High Commissioner	Michael Keenan, Minister for Justice	To enhance cooperative efforts in law enforcement and administration of justice and to cooperate in the enforcement of penal sentences. It will facilitate, regulate and lay down procedures for the transfer of sentenced persons and enable rehabilitation and reintegration of sentenced persons into society.
3.	MOU on Combating Narcotics Trafficking and Developing Police Cooperation	Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs	Michael Keenan, Minister for Justice	To address concerns regarding illicit trafficking and drug abuse. It places priority on tackling illicit trade, diversion of precursors, asset forfeiture and drug money laundering. It will promote capacity building and help develop strategies and procedures for operations to disrupt and dismantle transnational narcotic related threats.
4.	MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Arts and Culture	Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs	George Brandis, Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts	To enhance cultural relations between the two countries in pursuance of the Cultural Agreement of 1971. It will promote cooperation through exchange of information, professional expertise, training and exhibitions in the field of culture. It will deepen understanding between the people, institutions and art genres and promote sound and sustainable artistic and cultural activities.
5.	MOU in the Field of Tourism	Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs	Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment	To enhance the bilateral cooperation and strengthen the friendly between the people. It will encourage cooperation in tourism policy, information exchange, interaction between tourism stakeholders, training and investments in hospitality sector and promote the importance of the tourism sector in economic development and employment generation.