Indian PM Modi Visits Australia for Defense, Minerals, and Uranium Talks

Melbourne. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Australia for talks on defense relations, critical minerals, and uranium security, it has been reported.< /p>

Preparations are underway to give Modi a rockstar welcome at a community rally organized in Melbourne on Thursday, and it is estimated that more than 20,000 people will participate in this program, it has been reported.< /p>

It has been reported that India and Australia have been getting very close recently, and Tista Prakash of the Australia India Institute has said that this is a historically very difficult relationship, keeping in mind the situation of India and Australia during the war.< /p>

Prime Minister Modi is expected to discuss securing a reliable uranium pipeline with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in a meeting on Thursday.< /p>

India, a country with a high population, has advanced plans to rapidly expand its nuclear energy capacity, and according to the World Nuclear Association, Australia is estimated to hold 28 percent of the world's uranium resources.< /p>

Although India and Australia paved the way for uranium exports by signing a nuclear cooperation agreement in 2015, it has been reported that trade has not been smooth so far due to remaining legal obstacles.< /p>

With the ambition to boost the electric vehicle market, India is also looking for critical minerals including lithium, and Australia has abundant lithium, it has been reported.< /p>

Australia, India, the United States, and Japan are members of the Quad, a group seen as a counter to China in the Asia-Pacific region.< /p>

The United States appears to have less interest in the alliance, while New Delhi and Canberra have shown a desire to work with each other on defense matters.< /p>

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