Why is Australia special for India after the formation of QUAD? What is the significance of EAM S Jaishankar's visit to Canberra?

EAM Jaishankar in Australia: India and Australia have come closer to each other since the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Especially after the formation of Quad, the relations between the two countries have intensified. The Australian Navy's participation in the Indian Navy's exercise last year proved that bilateral relations as well as a strategic partnership have developed between the two countries. However, China takes as a challenge the proximity of the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region. In such a situation, it is important to understand that after the formation of Quad QUAD, there has been intensification between the two countries. How much has the trade between Australia and India increased? Why Australia and India have come closer strategically. What is the big reason behind this? With this, you will also know what is China's concern about the quad. What is the opinion of experts in all these matters?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Australia twice in eight months

1- The rapidly changing strategic equation in the world has made the partnership between India and Australia very important. India attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with Australia. This can also be gauged from the fact that Indian External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) has visited Australia twice in eight months. Foreign affairs expert Prof Harsh V Pant says that this visit is also important because the global scenario has changed a lot in recent times.

Due to the Russo-Ukraine war, there has been a major reshuffle in strategic relations in the world. America and Western countries have opposed India's neutrality policy in the Russia-Ukraine war. Here, a new jugalbandi is going on between America and Pakistan. The dispute on the India-China border has deepened. In such a situation, the relationship between India and Australia is very important. Prof Pant said that recently the fourth meeting of foreign ministers of QUAD group countries India, USA, Australia, and Japan was held in Melbourne, Australia. It was felt by both countries that the alliance encouraged the enhancement of trade relations between all the members of the Quad.

India-Australia relations intensified after the Quad

1- India-Australia has close bilateral relations. In recent years, especially after the formation of the Quad, the relations between the two countries have changed significantly. Foreign affairs expert Prof Harsh V Pant says that after the formation of the Quad, bilateral relations between India and Australia have come closer. With this, the relationship between the two countries has turned into a strategic partnership. He said that Australia is India's 17th largest trading partner. Similarly, India is the ninth largest trading partner of Australia.

2- Prof Pant said that after the formation of Quad, both countries have come closer to each other. This can be gauged from the fact that India's exports to Australia grew by 135 percent between the years 2019 and 2021. In the year 2021, India's import of goods from Australia was $ 6.9 billion. India's goods imports from Australia this year were worth $15.1 billion. Under this, raw materials, minerals, and other commodities are included on a large scale. India-Australia bilateral trade was around US$ 12.5 billion in the year 2020-21 and has crossed US$ 17.7 billion in the first 10 months of 2021-22. India imported about US$ 12.1 billion from Australia in the first 10 months of the financial year and exported goods worth US$ 5.6 billion during this period.

China warns Bangladesh about quad

1- After the formation of the US-led Quad, China warned Bangladesh against joining this alliance. China had said that it is an anti-China club. China had insisted that Bangladesh's participation in the Quad would have an impact on the bilateral relations between Beijing and Dhaka. After the formation of the Quad, China's Foreign Ministry said that it is America's strategy to form a separate faction. Its purpose is to present China as a challenge. Apart from this, there is a rift between China's neighboring countries and Beijing. China opposes this faction.

2- He said that because of China's aggression in the South China Sea and East Sea, many ASEAN countries including Japan have been affected. China has been making its claim in this area. Because of this, this alliance of Japan, India, Australia, and America becomes very important. The Quad Alliance has been in favor of a rule-based regime in the maritime domain.

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