EAM Jaishankar meets with his Australian counterpart to discuss Indo-Pacific and West Asian matters

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Senator Penny Wong of Australia held talks in Perth today on a range of international issues, including the Indo-Pacific and the situation in West Asia, on the fringes of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference. The meeting started off with EAM Jaishankar and FM Wong exchanging pleasantries. The chance to improve the two countries’ relationship pleased both leaders. The comprehensive strategic partnership between Australia and India was the main topic of discussion during the negotiations. The two ministers restated their resolve to advancing cooperation across a range of areas, with an emphasis on issues pertaining to the Indian Ocean region.

EAM Jaishankar and Senator Wong discussed the Indo-Pacific region, acknowledging the strategic importance it holds. The leaders explored avenues for collaborative efforts to address shared challenges and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The situation in West Asia also featured prominently in the discussions.
“Delighted to meet FM @SenatorWong of Australia in Perth today as we gather for the 7th Indian Ocean Conference. Good exchange on our comprehensive strategic partnership and convergence on matters related to the Indian Ocean. Also discussed the Indo-Pacific, situation in West Asia and other regional and global topics,” said EAM Jaishankar in a post on X.
Notably, Jaishankar will address the two-day 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth that gets underway today with the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.”
The Indian Ocean Conference is a flagship consultative forum for countries in the Indian Ocean Region, organised annually by the Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the India Foundation.

The S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, the Perth-US Asia Center in Australia, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia are all partners in organizing the conference. “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean” is the theme of this conference, according to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs.