Australia-India PACTS replaces 2020 cyber framework, expands supply chain, DPI collaboration

This new framework succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation.

Who it concerns: The agreement involves the governments of Australia and India, specifically the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, National Security Council Secretariat, and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). It affects and engages the private sector, universities, research institutions, and specific industries including telecommunications, biotechnology, advanced materials, space, semi-conductors, critical minerals, and defence science.

What was agreed

• Establishment of a bilateral mechanism for collaboration on trusted vendor frameworks.
• Cooperation on secure undersea cable connectivity across the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience.
• Collaboration between research institutes to protect semi-conductor supply chains and develop secure critical minerals supply chains.
• Development of consensus-driven, multistakeholder frameworks for trustworthy AI, including sharing approaches on securing access to compute and large language models.
• Refocusing research and investment partnerships on advanced materials, telecommunications, and biotechnology.
• Exploration of joint commercial and government-led space sector initiatives.
• Establishment of a consolidated bilateral mechanism in cyber and ICT fields to streamline capacity building and avoid duplication.
• Creation of a cyber tech skill incubator hub.
• Scaling and diffusing India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) solutions to the Indo-Pacific region.
• Regularisation of working-level exchanges between Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Focus on innovative maritime science and technology capabilities for defence applications.

Also in the document

• The PACTS explicitly succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement.
• The partnership includes a commitment to scale India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) solutions across the Indo-Pacific.
• Specific collaboration is mandated on protecting semi-conductor supply chains and developing secure critical minerals supply chains.
• The agreement establishes a governance structure chaired by the Australian Deputy Secretary International and Security Group and the Indian Deputy National Security Advisor, with an annual Senior Officials Meeting.