Report on Visit of the Delegation from the Australian Defence College

Introduction

A 35-member delegation of the Australian Defence and Strategic Studies Course (ADSSC) from the Australian Defence College visited the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) on 17 October 2023. Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), hosted the delegation led by Rear Admiral James Lybrand, CSC, RAN Commander, Australian Defence College, for a discussion. 

Executive Summary

The delegation from the Australian Defence College (ADC) consisted of serving military officials from the Australian Defence Forces and select public service officials who are undergoing the Defence and Strategic Studies Course from the College. The delegation had an interactive session with the Director General and a group of scholars from MP-IDSA. Amb. Chinoy briefed them on Indian Foreign Policy and India-Australia relations, and topics such as India's stance on strategic autonomy, Indo-Pacific, India’s leadership at the G20 were discussed. Amb. Chinoy answered a range of questions from the delegation.

Report

Ambassador Sujan Chinoy welcomed the delegation and briefly introduced the delegation to MP-IDSA, its mission, and its contributions to the national security discourse in India. Amb. Chinoy made a short presentation on his assessment of the geostrategic environment at a time when the world is in flux. The presentation focused on India’s threat perceptions, the Indo-Pacific, India’s place in the emerging world order, its zero tolerance for terrorism and aspirations for “Amrit Kaal 2047.”  

India’s foreign policy priorities including neighbourhood-first and stance on strategic autonomy were covered in the discussion. India’s place in the emerging world order, its ambition of becoming the 3rd largest economy and the growing scale of strategic partnerships were discussed. Amb. Chinoy highlighted the leadership roles taken up by India in diverse international fora including the G20 which concluded with successful outcomes. He also highlighted India’s emergence as “Vishwa Guru”—in terms of values, “Vishwamitra”—as a global friend and as “Vishwa Vaid”- as a global physician.

Amb. Chinoy highlighted India’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and emerging security cooperation in the region and its commitment to build capacities and working with strategic partners, including Australia.

A Question & Answer Session followed.

The report was prepared by Mr. D. S. Murugan Yadav, Intern, Military Affairs Centre, MP-IDSA.