Highlights
- ‘India, Australia are natural allies’: PM Scott Morrison at Raisina Dialogue
- Raisina Dialogue is India's flagship programme on geopolitics and geo-economics
- Mr Morrison raised concerns about territorial claims, foreign interference in Indo-Pacific
On the second-last day of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier summit on geopolitics, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott welcomed India’s “increasingly active role” in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine.
“We welcome your leadership PM Modi, we welcome India’s leadership and engagement, whether it’s on the outstanding vaccines that are necessary and the ‘Maitree’ campaign that you have engaged in, which has seen over 64 million Indian-made vaccines shipped to more than 80 countries,” Mr Morrison said.
The prime minister made the comments in a virtual address at the sixth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, named after Raisina Hill, the seat of the Indian government at New Delhi.
Held annually since 2016, the conference is jointly organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and policy think-tank Observer Research Foundation. This year, it is being held virtually from 13-16 April.
Australia and the Indo-Pacific
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (file pic) Source: (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
On 15 April, Mr Morrison reiterated the need for Australia and India to work more closely on emerging issues in the Indo-Pacific region and explore ways to further deepen their economic partnership.
Drawing similarities between the two democratic nations, Mr Morrison said India and Australia “share a deep friendship, or as you say in India, maitree”, and “passion for democratic freedom, commitment to the rule of law, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region”.
He also said the COVID-19 pandemic had created momentum for “like-minded countries” to work together like never before and “has inspired action to defend our collective interests.”
Mr Morrison also mentioned that Australia’s inclusion in the Malabar military exercise with India, Japan and the United States, and the elevation of bilateral ties between India and Australia to a comprehensive strategic partnership level were key developments during the global pandemic.
Commenting on the bilateral relationship in an interview with SBS Punjabi, said the two countries have enjoyed strong political, economic and community ties as strategic partners since 2009 – a partnership that is bound to see an “upward trend.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison greets Indian High Commissioner to Australia Gitesh Sarma ahead of the 2020 Virtual Leaders Summit. Source: AAP
“We are really now in a state where we can say we are special partners, we are extremely comfortable with each other and things are falling in place,” he had said a few days ahead of the Raisina Dialogue.
“In several areas, whether it’s trade or the health sector or mining or IT or any other sector, in every sector, there is activity based on the understandings reached at a high level. So, we can only expect this trajectory to be maintained during this period,” Mr Sarma added.
Without singling out any specific country, Mr Morrison used his address to raise concerns about escalating tensions over territorial claims, growing military modernisation in the region, democratic countries facing rising unprecedented threats and the challenge of foreign interference.
“There is a great polarisation that our world is at risk of moving towards,” he said. “A polarisation between authoritarian regimes and autocracies, and the liberal democracies that we love.”
PM likens Australia's multiculturalism society to a blend of Indian masala spices:
In a separate session ahead of the dialogue on 15 April, Mr Morrison enjoyed breakfast with the Indian community at The Bollywood Restaurant in Perth.
During the candid session, the prime minister said India and Australia were members of the democratic camp, saying “the values and principles and the democracy that is represented in the great nation of India attaches seamlessly to Australian culture and Australian life.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison at an Indian resteraunt in Perth on 15 April 2021. Source: PMO
At this occasion, Mr Morrison once again invoked his love for Indian food and likened Australia’s multicultural society to a popular blend of Indian spices called masala.
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