September 23, 2026, 3:02 am
India and Australia are on an accelerated path to strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marked by growing strategic convergence, expanding economic ties and an increasingly shared interest in the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia in July 2026, for the third India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit, provided fresh momentum to this partnership, with both countries committing to deepen cooperation across trade and investment, defence and security, critical minerals, technology, cyber security, space, clean energy and people-to-people links.
The partnership assumes particular significance against the backdrop of rapid geopolitical changes. Intensifying strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, evolving dynamics in the Indian Ocean, supply chain vulnerabilities, emerging technology challenges and uncertainty in the global economic and security environment are creating both new risks and new opportunities for cooperation.
The discussion will examine how India and Australia can translate their growing strategic convergence into practical outcomes, strengthening maritime and defence cooperation, building resilient supply chains, expanding trade and investment, collaborating on critical and emerging technologies, and working with regional partners to support a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Before being appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Nagesh Singh was the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand. During his diplomatic career, Mr. Nagesh Singh has served as the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of External Affairs from July 2018 to October 2022; Consul General of India in Atlanta (June 2015-June 2018); Joint Secretary/Officer on Special Duty to the Vice President of India (September 2012–June 2015); Director (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) in the Ministry of External Affairs (February 2010– August 2012); Counsellor (UN Administrative & Budgetary Affairs) in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York (June 2006–February 2010); Private Secretary to the Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India (June 2003–May 2006) and Under Secretary (Pakistan) in the Ministry of External Affairs (September 2002 May 2003).
He has also served as Second Secretary in Embassy of India in Dakar (Republic of Senegal), with concurrent accreditation to Cape Verde, Guinea, Bissau, Mali, Mauritania and The Gambia (July 2000 to August 2002) and Third/Second Secretary, Embassy of India in Paris (June 1997 – June 2000). He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1995.
Mr. Nagesh Singh did his B.A. (Hons) in Economics from University of Delhi and Master’s in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. He speaks Hindi, English and French.
He is married to Pragjna Singh and they have a son and a daughter.
Content Creator – Australian Institute of International Affairs
