Australia-India PACTS: A New Cyber, Critical Technology and Supply Chain Partnership for the Indo-Pacific

India and Australia have launched a major new framework to strengthen cooperation in cyber security, critical technologies and resilient supply chains. The Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains, known as PACTS, replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation and gives the partnership a wider strategic direction.

The new partnership reflects the reality that technology is now central to national security, economic growth and regional influence. Supply chains, cyber infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals, digital public infrastructure and defence research are no longer separate policy areas. They shape the security and prosperity of nations. By creating PACTS, India and Australia are building a structured platform to work together across these important domains.

PACTS is built on five pillars: supply chain resilience and diversification, critical technology, cybersecurity, digital resilience and defence research collaboration. These pillars show that the two countries are moving beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation into a deeper technology-security partnership. The framework will bring together governments, private companies, universities, research institutions and defence innovation ecosystems.

The first pillar focuses on supply chain resilience and diversification. India and Australia will work to build secure, trustworthy and resilient supply chains for technical industries. This includes trusted vendor frameworks, secure undersea cable connectivity, semiconductor supply chain protection, critical minerals cooperation, recycling and recovery, and stronger business-to-business engagement. This is especially important as the Indo-Pacific depends heavily on secure digital connectivity and reliable access to critical materials.

Undersea cable protection is one of the most important elements in this pillar. Submarine cables carry a large share of global internet and data traffic, making them vital to economic and national security. Through cooperation under the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, India and Australia aim to strengthen reliable and trusted undersea cable infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific. This will help address risks such as sabotage, disruption and strategic vulnerability.

The second pillar focuses on critical technology. India and Australia will cooperate in areas such as artificial intelligence, space technology, telecommunications, biotechnology and advanced materials. The goal is to strengthen the security, resilience and integrity of priority technologies while supporting innovation and research. This pillar also highlights the importance of democratic values, safe AI development and international standards shaped through consensus-based frameworks.

Artificial intelligence has been given special attention because it will influence almost every sector of modern life, from governance and defence to healthcare, education and industry. India and Australia plan to support cooperation between academic institutions and private sectors, share approaches on compute access, large language models, AI infrastructure and safe deployment practices. This can help both nations build responsible AI ecosystems while contributing to global technology standards.

The third pillar is cybersecurity. India and Australia will work together to strengthen the safety and security of the cyber and digital domain. This includes countering cybercrime, deterring malicious cyber activity, protecting critical national infrastructure, and improving cooperation in international cyber processes. The partnership also proposes a cyber tech skill incubator hub, which can support the development and exchange of critical cyber skills.

Cybersecurity cooperation is vital because cyber threats now affect governments, businesses, financial systems, defence networks, telecom infrastructure and citizens. A stronger India-Australia cyber partnership can improve threat awareness, capacity building, joint workshops, policy coordination and private sector collaboration. It can also help both countries contribute more effectively to cyber norms at the United Nations and other international platforms.

The fourth pillar focuses on digital resilience. This is where India’s experience with Digital Public Infrastructure can play a major role. India has built large-scale digital systems for identity, payments and public service delivery, and these models are now being studied by several countries. Under PACTS, India and Australia will work together to support digitalising economies across the Indo-Pacific through scalable and trusted technology solutions.

Digital resilience cooperation can include areas such as clean energy, critical infrastructure, connectivity, health, social protection, skills development, education and research. The aim is to develop locally adaptable digital ecosystems for Indo-Pacific partners. This gives the partnership a development-oriented dimension and allows India and Australia to offer practical digital solutions to the wider region.

The fifth pillar focuses on defence research collaboration. India and Australia will strengthen cooperation between their defence science organisations, including India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group. The partnership will support exchanges, joint research priorities, defence innovation, start-up ecosystem linkages and maritime science and technology capabilities.

This defence research pillar has strong strategic value. The Indo-Pacific is becoming increasingly technology-driven, especially in areas such as maritime surveillance, advanced materials, autonomous systems, cyber defence, communications and multi-domain operations. Cooperation between India and Australia can create new pathways for defence innovation and strengthen both countries’ ability to respond to emerging security challenges.

The governance structure of PACTS also shows seriousness of intent. The partnership will be chaired at a senior level by Australia’s Deputy Secretary International and Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and India’s Deputy National Security Advisor. Annual senior officials’ meetings will coordinate progress under each pillar, review priorities, assess emerging risks and identify specific projects.

This structure gives PACTS a clear strategic architecture. Different Indian and Australian agencies will lead the five pillars, ensuring that cyber, critical technology, supply chain resilience, digital cooperation and defence research are pursued through specialised channels. This can help avoid duplication and make the partnership more result-oriented.

For India, PACTS supports the country’s ambitions in Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, semiconductor manufacturing, critical minerals, cyber resilience, defence innovation and global technology leadership. For Australia, it strengthens partnership with a major Indo-Pacific power and provides new opportunities in critical minerals, cyber, research, defence technology and secure supply chains.

For the wider Indo-Pacific, the partnership offers a model of trusted technology cooperation. It combines security, resilience, inclusivity, innovation and democratic values. It also strengthens the role of India and Australia as responsible technology leaders at a time when digital systems, supply chains and critical technologies are shaping global power equations.

The Australia-India PACTS framework is a strategic platform for the next phase of India-Australia cooperation. It links cyber security with supply chains, artificial intelligence with democratic values, digital public infrastructure with regional development, and defence research with maritime security. As the Indo-Pacific becomes more technology-driven, PACTS can become one of the strongest pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Source: PIB