Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a landmark uranium supply agreement during his visit to Australia on Thursday,. The deal is set to fuel India's ambitious nuclear energy goals as the world’s most populous nation seeks to meet its soaring electricity demands.
The agreement was finalized following high-level talks between PM Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne,. Modi highlighted that this partnership provides "fresh momentum" to India’s clean energy objectives.
Australia holds roughly 2% of the world’s uranium resources. While the two nations first signed a nuclear cooperation pact in 2015, legal hurdles had previously kept trade largely non-existent. The new arrangement facilitates long-term exports under strict International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, guaranteeing the material is used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Prime Minister Albanese praised the strengthening ties, noting that the Indian diaspora has now become the largest overseas-born community in Australia, surpassing the British for the first time,,. However, the visit also faced domestic scrutiny. While Modi prepared for a massive community rally, some groups staged protests criticizing Hindu nationalism and migration policies. Following his Australian tour, PM Modi is scheduled to visit New Zealand.
