India and Australia have grown considerably closer in recent years, partly driven by a joint desire to keep Beijing’s military ambitions in check while cultivating trading partners outside China.
Modi and Albanese also agreed to strengthen defence cooperation and to bolster supply chains for critical minerals.
The two nations would build a “temporary space tracking terminal” on Australia’s Cocos Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean, which will support Indian space flight projects, according to a joint statement.
“HUGE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE”
Albanese sported a wide grin as the two leaders briefly paused to take a selfie photo earlier in the day.
The Australian prime minister has previously referred to Modi as “The Boss”, joking that he could pull bigger crowds than US rock icon Bruce Springsteen.
Albanese praised Modi’s leadership for helping foster stronger ties between the two nations.
“Prime Minister Modi, your leadership and your personal engagement with Australia has been absolutely central to this change,” Albanese said.
Australia’s Indian diaspora has grown substantially in recent years, giving Modi a sizeable fanbase in the country.
For the first time on record, the biggest group of Australian residents born overseas came from India, statistics for last year showed in June.
“In 2014, the Indian diaspora community in Australia was relatively small,” said Teesta Prakash from the Australia India Institute.
“But in 2026, it is now the largest diaspora community within Australia. It has outstripped the British, which is a huge demographic change,” she told AFP.
