The bilateral relationship between Australia and India has improved in recent years according to senior Australian government officials. Despite this, when asked about reports of two Indian spies being secretly expelled from Australia four years ago, Treasurer Jim Chalmers declined to comment, stating, “I don’t want to get into those kinds of operational issues in any way.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong also refrained from commenting on the issue, citing the government’s standard line that they did not comment on intelligence matters. The relationship between India and Australia is important economically, and efforts have been made to strengthen ties between the two countries.
India is an increasingly important trading partner for Australia, as the country seeks to reduce its economic reliance on China. India and Australia are also developing closer military ties as members of the Quad security dialogue alongside the United States and Japan. Despite reports of the expulsion of two Indian spies by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), the Labor Party government, which was not in power at the time, has remained silent on the matter. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess referred to the spies as part of a “nest of spies” during a public speech, but did not specifically name the nation behind the espionage activities.
According to reports from The Washington Post, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Australian Broadcasting Corp, the expelled spies were allegedly operatives of India’s Research and Analysis Wing, the country’s foreign intelligence agency. Their activities included targeting relationships with current and former politicians, monitoring the diaspora in Australia, and obtaining classified information about Australia’s trade relationships. The spies also attempted to access sensitive details about defense technology and security protocols at a major Australian airport. Despite these revelations, Burgess and ASIO have declined to explicitly name India as the nation behind the spying activities.
The Indian High Commission in Australia did not respond to requests for comment regarding the reported expulsion of the two spies. While there are concerns about the alleged espionage activities of the Indian operatives in Australia, the overall relationship between the two countries remains strong. Both Australia and India have emphasized the importance of their economic and strategic partnership, and efforts are ongoing to further strengthen ties. As the international landscape continues to evolve, it will be essential for Australia and India to navigate potential challenges while also capitalizing on opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.
