India-Australia ties become comprehensive strategic partnership in pandemic-riddled 2020 as China looks on – The Economic Times

Melbourne: India-Australia relations touched a new level with both the countries elevating their ties to a ࢀœcomprehensive strategic partnershipࢀ, signing key agreements including a landmark pact for reciprocal access to military bases against the backdrop of their frosty relations with China. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who had to cancel his trip to India in January, 2020 due to the devastating bushfire season in his country, complemented his Indian counterpart and ࢀœgood friendࢀ Narendra Modi for playing an ࢀœimportant partࢀ in ࢀœstabilisingࢀ the strategic Indo-Pacific region during the difficult times when they held their first virtual bilateral summit in June….