SHILLONG: The Asian Confluence Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies recently launched its flagship “Signature Series” with a high-level discussion focused on strengthening India–Australia cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, with special emphasis on the strategic role of Northeast India.
The inaugural session, held in Shillong, revolved around the theme, “The Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal: Emerging Contours in Australia–India Partnerships: Engaging the North-East Indian States.”
The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and civil society representatives to deliberate on evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and the growing significance of the Bay of Bengal region.
Setting the context for the discussions, Ambassador Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, Member of the Governing Council of Asian Confluence and Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, highlighted the expanding strategic dimensions of India–Australia relations. He underlined the increasing importance of Northeast India and the Bay of Bengal in regional connectivity and cooperation frameworks.
Delivering the Special Address, Professor C. Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, and Advisor to Asian Confluence, provided a detailed analysis of the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indian Ocean region. He discussed the rise of China, shifting regional dynamics, and the strategic importance of Northeast India in connectivity and maritime engagement within the wider Indo-Pacific framework.
The keynote address was delivered by the Australian High Commissioner to India, H.E. Mr Philip Green OAM, who stressed the growing convergence of strategic, developmental, and economic interests between India and Australia. He emphasized the need for stronger institutional partnerships, deeper economic cooperation, and enhanced people-to-people ties to ensure a stable, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, where participants discussed opportunities for collaboration in areas such as sustainable development, clean energy, education, mining, trade, and regional connectivity. Discussions also touched upon the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Indo-Pacific geopolitics, reinforcing the need for closer strategic coordination between India and Australia.
Asian Confluence stated that the Signature Series will serve as a long-term platform to convene diplomats, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders for critical discussions on contemporary geopolitical developments in the Bay of Bengal and Indo-Pacific regions, while highlighting the strategic relevance of Northeast India.
