Indian and the Royal Australian Navy on Wednesday signed a ''Terms of Reference for the conduct of Navy-to-Navy talks between the two countries. This comes in the light of the "Joint Guidance for the India-Australia Navy to Navy Relationship" document signed by the chiefs of the two navies on August 18 this year.

An official release stated the signing of the ''Terms of Reference'' ceremony was held virtually between Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh, ACNS (FCI), Indian Navy and Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, DCNS, Royal Australian Navy.

The "Joint Guidance" document sets the Navy to Navy Talks as the "Principal" medium for guiding the bilateral relationship.

The release stated that ''Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'', Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, the conduct of trilateral Maritime Security Workshop and Royal Australian Navy's participation in Exercise Malabar are significant milestones that underline the role played by both navies in bolstering this relationship in recent times.

The document would be pivotal in consolidating the shared commitment to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, the release said. The signing of the document comes particularly in the light of Australia joining the AUKUS treaty with the US and UK to equip itself with nuclear submarines for safeguarding the Indo-Pacific. 

The inaugural Navy-to-Navy talks with Australia was held in 2005. Since then, the two nations and the Navies have continued to grow closer at all levels and with over a decade of bilateral talks, they remain more committed than ever to strengthen and deepen this important Navy to Navy relationship, it added (SAM)