On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in New Delhi as part of the 17th India-Australia Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, defence, energy, and maritime security. Jaishankar noted significant progress in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2020, highlighting ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to enhance economic ties. Both ministers addressed regional issues, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia, emphasizing the importance of their partnership amid global challenges. Wong remarked that the partnership has never been more consequential, and both leaders expressed satisfaction with the deepening cooperation observed over the past five years. The dialogue followed a Quad foreign ministers' meeting, where collaborative efforts in the Indo-Pacific were a focal point. Jaishankar reiterated the commitment to expanding cooperation in critical areas such as energy, defence exchanges, and space collaboration, underlining the strategic significance of India-Australia relations.