Anthony Albanese to visit India this month: Defence, trade and education high on agenda | Explained

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they conclude their joint press conference at Admiralty House in Sydney on May 24, 2023. (Photo by DEAN LEWINS / POOL / AFP)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit India later this month, in what will be his first trip to the country since beginning his second term in office in May, according to a report by CNN-News18. Top government sources told the outlet that the exact dates for the high-level visit are still being finalised.

The visit is likely to carry symbolic and strategic significance as it coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia, established in June 2020. Over the past few years, ties between New Delhi and Canberra have deepened across multiple domains, particularly in defence, trade, and education.

On the defence front, engagement between the two countries has accelerated this year. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Australia earlier in 2025, during which both nations signed three key Memorandums of Understanding covering information sharing, submarine rescue operations, and the establishment of joint staff talks. Singh also observed an air-to-air refuelling demonstration on a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker, a move widely seen as a sign of growing trust and operational cooperation between the two militaries.

His visit followed that of Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to India, reflecting sustained high-level dialogue in the security domain. Both sides are now working toward finalising a renewed Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, which will update the original 2009 agreement, as well as a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap to guide defence ties over the next decade.

In education, India continues to be one of Australia’s largest sources of international students. Several Australian universities, including the University of Wollongong, the University of Western Australia, Deakin University, and the University of Adelaide, are expanding their presence in India by opening or planning new campuses.

The two leaders last met in 2024 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, where Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese held their second annual summit. Their discussions focused on broadening cooperation in trade, energy, defence, science, and technology.

Albanese’s last visit to India was in 2023, the same year Prime Minister Modi received an enthusiastic reception in Sydney. During that event, Albanese famously introduced Modi to the crowd as “The Boss,” underscoring the warmth of the relationship and the growing personal rapport between the two leaders.