**Rajnath Singh to Visit Australia, First by an Indian Defence Minister in Nearly 12 Years**
*By Snehil Singh | October 5, 2025, 1:53 PM*
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Australia from October 7 to 10, marking the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the country in nearly 12 years. During his stay, Singh is expected to meet with his Australian counterpart and participate in key meetings aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
### Strategic Focus on the Indo-Pacific Region
A significant portion of the talks between Rajnath Singh and Australian officials will revolve around the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have been actively advocating for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific, grounded in international norms and mutual security interests.
This visit follows Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles’s trip to India in June. During that visit, Marles condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and commended India’s restraint in halting military operations against Pakistan in the aftermath.
### Praise for Indian Leadership
Speaking about India’s approach post-attack, Richard Marles stated,
*”We appreciate the stoppage of military activity, which we see as a strong act of Indian leadership.”*
He reaffirmed Australia’s support for India following the Pahalgam terror incident. Notably, Marles was the first Quad defence minister to visit India since “Operation Sindoor,” an Indian military response involving airstrikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. This operation utilized advanced long-range weapons such as BrahMos cruise missiles.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit is expected to further deepen defence ties and boost strategic collaboration between India and Australia, especially in light of evolving security dynamics across the Indo-Pacific.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/rajnath-singh-set-to-visit-australia-on-october-7/story
