Modi to visit Australia for summit as Albanese calls ties consequential

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Australia next week for the Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne. The trip underscores deepening India-Australia cooperation on trade, security and the Indo-Pacific.

In Short

• Melbourne will host bilateral talks during the three-day summit engagement
• Modi's wider tour includes Indonesia first and New Zealand thereafter
• Albanese said the partnership supports Indo-Pacific peace, stability and prosperity

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia next week for the Annual Leaders’ Summit, saying the bilateral relationship has "never been more consequential". Modi will visit Melbourne from July 8 to 10 as the second leg of a three-nation tour that begins in Indonesia on July 6 and concludes in New Zealand on July 11.

Albanese said he was "honoured to welcome my friend Prime Minister Modi to Australia for our Annual Leaders’ Summit". He said the Australia-India relationship "has never been more consequential", and added that the partnership fosters peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

In a statement, Albanese’s office said cooperation on trade, defence and security, and technology is delivering benefits for both countries. It also said, "As the world’s fourth largest and fastest growing economy, India is a critical economic partner for Australia." The statement added that the relationship is underpinned by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and supported by deep economic and cultural connections.

Albanese last met Modi on the margins of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in 2025. During the visit, the two leaders will meet in Melbourne for bilateral discussions. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release in New Delhi on Friday that Modi will also call on Governor General Sam Mostyn AC, participate in the India-Australia CEOs Forum, and address a gathering of the diaspora.

The Indian High Commission in Canberra welcomed Australia’s announcement in a post on X. It said, "The visit reflects the depth of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our shared commitment to advancing peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific. We look forward to a productive and memorable visit." Overall, the visit will centre on the Annual Leaders’ Summit, bilateral talks in Melbourne, and engagements aimed at strengthening India-Australia ties.

With PTI Inputs

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