The Australia Group is the easiest place to start India's formal entry into the global export control network. Canberra could advise India on harmonising its export controls and encourage other members to welcome India's admission.
One of the most promising areas for trilateral co-operation is enhancing maritime security and maintaining freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. Two-thirds of Indian oil and gas imports transit the Indian Ocean waters and most of Australia's resource exports transit East Asian waterways.
India is steadily building up its naval capabilities, giving particular attention to its Eastern Naval Command's role in its overall naval strategy and foreign policy. Three years ago, India convened the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, inviting participants from the littoral states, including Australia, to discuss maritime security. One concrete deliverable in this area would be India joining the multilateral Combined Task Force 151 anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia.
Washington, Canberra and New Delhi share the goal of preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a haven for international terrorists. Given several roadblocks the US has hit with its strategy in Afghanistan, it is clear the conflict is far from over and it's a conflict that has enormous implications for trends in global terrorism that affect all three nations.
Washington should work with both countries to fortify Afghanistan's institutions to preserve the democratic and human development gains made over the last decade. Washington and Canberra should fully support New Delhi's role in Afghanistan, noting that it has every right to safeguard its interests there.
All three countries are economically and diplomatically engaged with China. All three are also hedging against the potential negative side of China's rise. There is great value in discussing the experiences we have had in reconciling these approaches. The outcomes need not be all negative. We may develop new, constructive ways of dialogue with the Chinese.
The US, Australia and India have intersecting, not identical interests. Geography alone dictates that we see the world from different angles. But there is enough commonality that we should consider those areas where our perspectives do overlap and work together where it is in our mutual interest. A security pact is not necessary for us to do that.
