Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says his nation is expanding defence relationship with India

Addressing the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Marles said: "Australia is deepening its alliance with the United States, including though enhanced force posture cooperation in Australia, as we welcome recent US force posture enhancements in Japan, the Philippines and elsewhere. But Australia is also expanding its defence relationships with Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and other partners in Southeast Asia."

He further said: "These relationships have in fact have never been stronger, reflecting how we are all making choices about how to strengthen regional resilience."

Apart from  Marles, who is also Australia’s Defence Minister, American  Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, who also attended the key event in Singapore, appreciated the relationship between the US and India and said it is much stronger and better than ever.

"A good example is the relationship that we enjoy with India right now is as good as or better than our relationship has ever been. It's really strong," he said at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday (June 1, 2024).

"You know, several years ago, we set out with a notion to – gain approval for India to build jet engines for fighter aircraft in India. I served on a board of a company that makes jet engines for fighter aircraft and I know how difficult this was going to be. And we were hopeful but very skeptical that we could get this across the finish line. We did it. That's happening," he said.

Lloyd said India and the USA are also working together to co-produce armoured vehicles.

He said: "So, the anchors of our progress are sunk pretty deep throughout the region and they're based on common vision and common values. And so, I believe that the momentum that we see is going to not only continue, but that flywheel is going to pick up speed because this benefits us all."

The IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is a "Track One" inter-governmental security conference held annually in Singapore by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).