Mumbai, India, August 19 (ANI): Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green on Wednesday expressed concern over the ongoing disruption in the West Asia region and said both India and Australia want the Strait of Hormuz to reopen as soon as possible, stressing that the waterway is vital for global energy supplies and economic activity.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the IC3 event in Mumbai, Green said that while the two countries remain concerned about the situation in West Asia, India and Australia are simultaneously working to strengthen their energy partnership.
“We are troubled by ongoing disruption in the Middle East, and all of us want to have the Strait of Hormuz opened as soon as possible. That’s vitally important for ordinary citizens of India and Australia and many other countries to make sure that there are supplies of fuel at a decent cost that don’t impede our economy’s activity,” Green said.
“We have concerns about what’s going on in the Middle East. We want it over as quickly as we can so we can get back to normal,” he added.
The Australian envoy underlined that, in the face of current geopolitical challenges, the India-Australia energy partnership would continue to provide an avenue for cooperation. He said India and Australia have been developing an energy security partnership, recalling announcements made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia earlier in July.
“In the meantime, though, Australia and India are working on their own energy partnership. And one of the things that the Prime Minister announced when they were there is an energy security partnership between Australia and India,” the envoy said.
Noting that Australia has traditionally been a reliable supplier of coal and liquefied natural gas to India, he said the two countries have also opened avenues for uranium supplies.
“Australia has for the longest time been a reliable supplier of coal and LNG, and we opened a new window to open uranium sales from Australia to India. India is a good supplier of refined fuels to Australia,” he added.
Green emphasized that, unlike some other supply routes affected by geopolitical tensions, energy supplies between India and Australia do not face a similar strategic chokepoint.
“There is no geostrategic choke point between Australia and India, so those supplies of energy can go through without that sort of problem,” he said.
He also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, describing it as a “really super visit,” and recalled the warm reception Modi received from the Indian diaspora in Melbourne.
“I was delighted to accompany the Prime Minister. It was a really super visit, and of course he was very warmly welcomed by 30,000 or so people of Indian origin at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne,” Green said.
He said the visit also resulted in several initiatives aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in defense, maritime security, strategic technology, sports, culture and education.
“We laid down some really important new tracks for our bilateral relationship. A new defense and security partnership, a roadmap on maritime domain awareness, a new sports playbook, a new agreement on strategic tech, and new investments by big Australian corporates here in India,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, during their meeting in July, emphasized the increasing importance of energy security and resource collaboration for the two economies, according to their joint statement.
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation to support reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supplies, strengthen energy security and promote long-term economic prosperity.
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