Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia will be a demonstration of strategic pragmatism

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Melbourne today. This is his third official visit to Australia, making it the most frequent visit by the Indian Prime Minister in the history of bilateral relations.

It also reflects the remarkable transformation in Australia-India relations. Although once controversial – largely because of different cold war ideologies – THE strategic partnership is now firmly cemented.

But as political priorities shift in Australia and India, maintaining the alliance will require continued engagement and coordination.

Countering Chinese ambition

Signed in 2020, the comprehensive strategic partnership builds on a joint assessment by New Delhi and Canberra that China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific poses significant challenges.

As a result, Australia and India have partnered in a number of bilateral and regional initiatives as a deterrent. The most notable of these is the Quad: a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

It was initially developed as a disaster relief response following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but has since been used in a variety of ways.

Its most recent revival took place in 2017-2018, after an inactivity of almost ten years, and was largely a response to increasing Chinese aggression. For India, the catalyst was the year 2017 Doklam border crisis. For Australia, it was China militarization of the South China Sea.

The group’s goal is to address common concerns, not only of members but also of other members in the region. This includes questions such as knowledge of the maritime domain And critical minerals supply chain resilience.

Read more: Is the death of the “Quad” a slow death? Even with Trump, she still has a vital role to play

But the Quad’s strength has been undermined by US President Donald Trump’s apathy towards it and his increasingly tense relations with Modi.

The Quad nevertheless remains active since it has just concluded its 11th meeting of foreign ministers. The ministers announced that they would jointly build a port in Fiji.

Alongside Albanese, who recently signed a new security treaty with FijiIndia and Australia act together. This is the defining success of this relationship: a shared commitment to regional stability and strategic deterrence.

There was also significant bilateral defense cooperation, including negotiations on equipment and services. The two countries also recently agreed to conduct more joint military exercises.

A kind of free trade

However, challenges remain in these relationships, particularly with regard to fully realizing the economic potential of these ties. An interim trade agreement, ECTwas signed and implemented in 2022. It arguably increased market access for both parties.

This is a particularly important political victory for India, which had just withdrawn from the the largest free trade agreement in the world. The interim agreement with Australia showed the region that India was ready to pursue deeper economic integration with trusted strategic partners.

But the path to achieving total free trade this agreement proved to be long and arduous. There is no clear timetable for reaching a final agreement.

Much of the debate over the full-fledged deal has focused on tariff concessions and trade rules: historically sensitive political issues, particularly in sectors such as agriculture.

A pragmatic friendship

Even though Modi and Albanese have similar geopolitical goals, the style of government that each proposes for their respective countries is quite different.

In India, Modi has faces criticism due to concerns that his government has become increasingly centralized in the exercise of power. Critics claim this was accompanied by greater political influence over independent institutions and stricter restrictions on civil society organizations and dissident voices.

But the bilateral relationship has been largely insulated from the divergent political orientations of Modi and Albanians, as they have prioritized common interests over values. It is a relationship of pragmatism.

Where differences remain, such as concerns over democratic freedoms in India or minority rights, Australia has raised the issues. But it is understood between the two partners that these issues constitute a domestic concern for India.

The power of the diaspora

There is also a growing area of ​​both opportunity and challenge in bilateral relations: the role of the Indian diaspora in Australia.

The Indian diaspora is now the largest group of foreign-born migrants in Australia. This marks a significant shift in Australia’s demographic identity, which is historically British in origin.

It is no coincidence that Narendra Modi’s visit is centered on a major event (Melbourne meets Modi), which focuses on engagement with the diaspora. Australian Indians have significant economic clout and trade ties with their home country, which could potentially strengthen trade ties between the two countries.

However, using diaspora purely for economic gain in the current polarizing wave of anti-immigrant social movements could weaken social cohesion in Australia.

Reducing a community to its economic value alone can weaken social cohesion by neglecting its civic, social and political contributions. This can create a transactional sense of belonging, which can increase resentment.

For Modi, this diaspora is a diplomatic asset. This is a form of soft power that demonstrates India’s influence and international reach. He will undoubtedly play it during the visit.

But it is important to keep in mind that for a more mature bilateral relationship, the diaspora must not be reduced to an instrument serving Australia’s economic goals or India’s geopolitical message.

As the world grapples with US policy uncertainty and intensifying Chinese competition in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia and India are more strategically valuable to each other than ever.

As major powers recalibrate their policies, middle powers will now have to take more responsibility for shaping the regional order. Modi’s visit is expected to boost political goodwill, but the hard work on both sides will continue long after the Indian prime minister returns home via New Zealand.