Friday 25 / September / 2026
Canberra: India and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in cyber security, critical technologies and resilient supply chains as the two countries work to implement their new bilateral partnership.
Amit Shukla, Joint Secretary for Cyber Diplomacy at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, held discussions with Jessica Hunter, Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, during his visit to Australia.
The officials reviewed the longstanding India-Australia partnership in cyber security and critical technologies and exchanged views on operationalising the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS).
Shukla also participated in an artificial intelligence masterclass organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra, where he joined a panel discussing AI adoption across the Indo-Pacific.
The PACTS framework was launched on July 9, 2026, in Melbourne by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the third Australia-India Annual Summit.
The partnership succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation, expanding bilateral collaboration to address emerging digital, economic and national security challenges.
Under PACTS, Australia and India seek to strengthen national and regional security, provide partners with greater digital choices, enhance the resilience of critical supply chains and contribute to global cyber resilience.
The framework is centred on safety, security, resilience and inclusivity, while promoting shared democratic values and responsible development and use of technology.
The two countries increasingly view cyber security, critical technologies and resilient supply chains as essential to economic growth, national security and their ability to contribute to international technology standards and norms.
The new partnership brings these priorities together under a broader strategic framework, with cooperation organised around five key pillars aimed at deepening practical collaboration across the Indo-Pacific.
The latest discussions in Canberra underscore the expanding scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia, with emerging technologies, cyber security and supply-chain resilience becoming increasingly important areas of bilateral cooperation.
The partnership also reflects the two countries’ shared interest in ensuring a secure, resilient and inclusive digital environment while strengthening their capacity to respond to rapidly evolving technological and strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
