By Zarak Khan | 2026-07-27

India has bolstered defense, energy and strategic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific through a four-nation diplomatic push, highlighting New Delhi's efforts to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to India during July, produced agreements covering defense, critical minerals, semiconductors, nuclear energy and maritime security.

The diplomatic push comes as China's burgeoning military presence and economic reach reshape the Indo-Pacific and prompt several countries to diversify security partnerships and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

The diplomatic outreach came against a backdrop of heightened regional security tensions.

On July 6, a Chinese submarine test-fired a "strategic" missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. The United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan all responded with concern.

Indonesian ties

During Modi's visit to Jakarta, both countries announced plans for more defense, critical-mineral and maritime cooperation.

The plans include Indonesia's commitment to buy the BrahMos cruise missile and the Astra air-to-air missile, integrated development of the Sabang Port and stronger collaboration in critical minerals and rare earths.

Analysts view Indonesia's purchase of BrahMos as a direct response to persistent tensions in the North Natuna Sea, where Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels entered Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone in 2019 and 2020 to assert Beijing's "traditional fishing rights."

Once Indonesia takes delivery of BrahMos, it will become the third overseas customer of the missile, after the Philippines and Vietnam.

Ties with Australia, New Zealand

During Modi's visit to Australia, the two governments signed an agreement to remove the remaining hurdles for Australian exports of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-safeguarded uranium to India under their 2014 civil nuclear agreement.

A joint statement confirmed that the uranium supply, monitored by the IAEA, is designated for "exclusively peaceful purposes."

These safeguards are essential because India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Australia holds roughly 28% of global uranium reserves.

This landmark agreement builds on the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2020, driven by shared security concerns regarding "significant challenges posed by a rising China in the Indo-Pacific," according to Teesta Prakash, a research fellow at University of Melbourne's Australia India Institute.

To strengthen regional deterrence, Canberra and New Delhi have partnered in several bilateral and regional initiatives, above all the Quad (a diplomatic partnership among Australia, India, Japan and the United States), she wrote in The Conversation on July 7.

In May, the Quad nations pledged $20 billion to secure critical mineral supply chains and launched their first joint infrastructure project.

In New Zealand, Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon elevated their countries' relationship to a strategic partnership and agreed on more defense dialogue, maritime cooperation and negotiations towards a defense cooperation pact.

Recognizing their shared "interest in a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo Pacific," both sides agreed to boost maritime cooperation, a joint statement said.

Key milestones include a new Maritime Cooperation Arrangement (MCA), an agreement on hydrography and nautical cartography, and a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. They also welcomed enhanced Indian-New Zealand naval activities and exercises under the MCA framework.

Japanese partnership

The visits coincide with Takaichi's trip to India, where leaders of the two countries agreed to further deepen cooperation on critical minerals and semiconductors, sectors viewed as essential to reducing dependence on Chinese supply chains.

India and Japan have also agreed to co-develop the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project, a next-generation system designed to provide warships with secure and reliable communications.

The agreement comes amid a more contested Indo-Pacific operating environment.

"India faces pressure along its maritime borders due to growing grey-zone activity and electronic warfare risks around the critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean from rival maritime forces such as China and Pakistan," according to a July posting by the London-based GlobalData think-tank.

"Similarly, Japan is affected by tensions in the East China Sea and increasing complexity across the wider Western Pacific from actors like North Korea and China," GlobalData said.

Regional strategy

The latest agreements add to India's broader Indo-Pacific diplomacy during recent years.

Together, the initiatives reflect "India's broader effort to build a network of strategic partnerships connecting Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific," Ashok Sharma, an academic fellow, wrote in an analysis for the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

India's Indo-Pacific strategy, initially meant to maintain "a free, open and inclusive regional order amid China's growing assertiveness," now includes economic resilience, connectivity, technological cooperation and trusted partnerships, said Sharma.

Modi's Southeast Asia tour was "an effort to pursue broader strategic objectives -- related to China, the Global South, and being a net security provider -- in a region that has long been a top policy priority," Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, tweeted.