Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2010

Problems to partnership: a plan for Australia-India strategic ties

Rory Medcalf

November 2009

Lowy Institute for International Policy

Abstract

In this Lowy Institute Policy Brief, Rory Medcalf, Program Director International Security, argues that Australia and India must not squander the chance to build a strategic partnership. Recent bilateral difficulties, such as over student welfare, have at least focused high-level attention on the relationship. A security declaration would be a positive step, but would need to be more than rhetoric, and include practical ideas for defence, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation to meet common challenges. Meanwhile the uranium export question has not gone away.