Modi, Albanese Set for Talks on Uranium, Defense Cooperation

SYDNEY-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne on Thursday for talks expected to focus on critical minerals, trade, uranium exports, defense and broader security cooperation, as the two countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.

Modi arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday night after concluding a visit to Indonesia, where he signed a series of agreements covering agriculture and defense, including cooperation involving the BrahMos cruise missile system. During his stay in Australia, he is also expected to meet leading business executives and members of the Indian diaspora.

Australian media reported that the two leaders could finalize an agreement on uranium exports to India. The Australian Financial Review said on Wednesday that such a deal was under consideration, although no official announcement had been made before Thursday’s meeting.

Australia and India signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2014, but uranium exports have remained limited because of concerns over ensuring that nuclear fuel is used exclusively for peaceful purposes, including energy generation.

Asked about the possibility of a uranium agreement, Albanese told reporters on Wednesday that he would have “more to say about that with Prime Minister Modi.” He added that the two governments had engaged constructively and said they would make a range of joint announcements during the visit.

The meeting comes as India and Australia continue expanding cooperation across trade, defense and regional security amid growing strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

India is Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner, after China, Japan, the United States and South Korea. Around one million people in Australia identify as being of Indian ancestry, reflecting strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Later on Thursday, Modi is expected to address thousands of members of the Indian community at one of Melbourne’s largest sports stadiums. Australian media reported that security around the venue had been strengthened following reports of planned protests.

Large gatherings of expatriate Indians have become a regular feature of Modi’s overseas visits. During his previous trip to Australia in 2023, thousands attended a community event in Sydney, while similar appearances have drawn large crowds in countries including the United Kingdom and the United States.

After concluding his visit to Australia, Modi is scheduled to travel to New Zealand on Friday before returning to India.