Lisa Singh, the CEO of the Australia-India Institute, a number one analysis and coverage assume tank devoted to supporting and understanding the bilateral cooperation, is a former Australian Senator and was the primary girl of South Asian heritage to be elected to the Australian Parliament. She is in India to satisfy with a variety of stakeholders invested within the growth of the Indian Ocean and Indo Pacific area, and to deepen the footprint of the research- and policy-focused fellowship that the AI Institute affords. She spoke to Narayan Lakshman about a number of the key areas of focus for Canberra and New Delhi as they search to elevate bilateral ties to an ever-higher degree.
The Sixth India-Australia Maritime Safety Dialogue not too long ago happened, overlaying points equivalent to maritime area consciousness, humanitarian help, catastrophe reduction, regional engagements, and the sustainable use of maritime assets. Might you elaborate on the longer arc of cooperation on this space between India and Australia? What extra may the 2 international locations do collectively, and what influence ought to they intention to realize?
The problems raised through the dialogue had been extremely related not only for the Indian Ocean but in addition for the Pacific Ocean. Provided that Australia is a rustic located between two oceans—the Indian and Pacific—there’s a major position we should play in management throughout varied points like Maritime Area Consciousness (MDA), humanitarian help, local weather change, and catastrophe reduction in each areas.
Contemplating Australia’s distinctive place between these two oceans, how necessary is India as a companion in tackling these regional points?
India is an apparent and trusted companion on this regard. Our relationship has developed considerably from the place it was through the Chilly Warfare period after we had been on reverse sides of the geopolitical spectrum. Now, we’ve got a Complete Strategic Partnership (CSP), which strengthens our bilateral relationship. The CSP brings collectively necessary elements equivalent to ministerial-level discussions—our two-plus-two dialogue between overseas ministers and defence ministers is a transparent instance of that.
How do you assess the progress made in broader financial cooperation beneath the Complete Strategic Partnership (CSP) rubric?
The financial relationship between India and Australia just isn’t the place it might be, regardless of some progress beneath the Financial Cooperation and Commerce Settlement (ECTA). Whereas it’s good that tariffs have been eliminated, and we’re buying and selling extra produce, I consider we might be doing significantly better. One main challenge is the lack of expertise amongst Australian companies about the way to have interaction with India. We name this “India literacy,” and it’s one thing that wants extra focus if we’re to unlock the complete potential of our financial relationship.
The ministerial two-plus-two dialogue outlines key areas of cooperation between India and Australia. However what extra might be performed past this to strengthen the connection, particularly in supporting the broader Indo-Pacific area?
The 2-plus-two dialogue is crucial in strengthening our bilateral ties. Nonetheless, as a assume tank, we argue that India and Australia should transcend simply supporting one another and deal with supporting the Indo-Pacific area. Each nations desire a peaceable, rules-based Indo-Pacific, and we must always improve our multilateral engagement in organizations just like the Indian Ocean Fee (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Affiliation (IORA). India is already enjoying a task in these boards, and Australia ought to think about changing into an observer nation within the IOC.
Might you elaborate on India’s position within the Pacific area and the way it may complement Australia’s involvement?
India just isn’t a part of the Pacific Islands Discussion board (PIF), an necessary platform for Australia to have interaction with Pacific Island nations. It might be helpful to discover methods for India to be concerned in these conversations. Each India and Australia are already conducting lots of defence workouts, that are very important. Nonetheless, there’s room for additional collaboration on non-traditional safety points like local weather safety and unlawful fishing, which have an effect on the livelihoods of small island states within the area.
The Malabar Train is a major instance of the rising defence cooperation between India and Australia. How has this relationship developed?
Certainly, we’ve come a great distance since Australia wasn’t initially invited to take part within the Malabar train. Final 12 months, Australia hosted the Malabar train in Sydney Harbour, which was a testomony to how our defence cooperation has deepened. Our relationship continues to evolve in response to the altering challenges within the area, which Overseas Minister Jaishankar has described as essentially the most consequential area of our time.
You talked about that the connection between India and Australia should transcend defence cooperation. Might you develop on different areas of collaboration, equivalent to local weather safety?
Whereas defence is essential, we have to method these points via different lenses, like local weather safety. For instance, local weather change and unlawful fishing are urgent issues that influence the financial livelihoods of small island states. These are areas the place each India and Australia can collaborate, as these challenges transcend conventional defence issues. This focus is especially related given our shared historical past of humanitarian cooperation, equivalent to after the 2004 tsunami.
Australia and India not too long ago held a dialogue on island states in Kolkata. What had been a number of the key outcomes from that dialogue?
The Kolkata Dialogue was a ground-breaking dialogue between Australia and India, specializing in supporting island states. It touched on points like financial coercion and disinformation campaigns, significantly in smaller island states. Nonetheless, one key takeaway was that no island leaders had been current on the dialogue, which is one thing we plan to deal with within the subsequent iteration of the dialogue, scheduled to be held in Fiji subsequent 12 months. Our intention is to usher in island leaders from each the Indian Ocean and the Pacific to listen to immediately from them about what they want from trusted companions like India and Australia.
You talked about that Australian companies have been sluggish to have interaction with India. How do you see this altering, and what must be performed?
There may be positively room for enchancment. Australian companies have historically centered on the US and European markets, and extra not too long ago, China. Nonetheless, they should acknowledge that India is a key financial participant, and the pandemic has proven us the significance of diversifying our provide chains. Sectors like crucial minerals and renewable power current main alternatives for each international locations, however we want extra consciousness and schooling for companies on each side to have interaction extra successfully.
What position can schooling and analysis collaboration play in strengthening India-Australia ties?
Training and analysis collaboration are essential pillars of the India-Australia relationship. We’re already engaged on a number of initiatives, just like the Girls in STEM Fellowship, which fosters alternate between researchers from each international locations. Moreover, we’re exploring alternatives for vocational coaching in India, the place Australian suppliers may help practice Indian counterparts on the bottom. These sorts of exchanges can considerably deepen our ties and tackle shared challenges within the schooling and expertise area.
Lastly, what are your plans for future initiatives on this area?
We’re at present engaged on a number of thrilling tasks. As an illustration, we’ll be holding a local weather safety roundtable in Chennai, and we’re additionally launching new initiatives as a part of the Victoria-India technique. Moreover, the College of Melbourne is opening a brand new centre in Connaught Place, Delhi, which is a primary for an Australian college in India. These initiatives will assist deepen the collaboration between our international locations in areas like local weather safety, schooling, and management.
