AFP | Melbourne

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Australia yesterday ahead of talks tipped to focus on defence ties, critical minerals and securing prized uranium.

Modi is set to receive a rock-star welcome at a community rally held inside a Melbourne stadium on Thursday, with organisers anticipating more than 20,000 people could flock to the event.

India and Australia have grown considerably closer in recent years, a relationship partly driven by a joint desire to keep Beijing’s military ambitions in check while cultivating trading partners outside China.

“It’s historically been quite a difficult relationship, given India and Australia’s differing positions during the Cold War,” said Teesta Prakash from the Australia India Institute.

“But now we are in a starkly different strategic environment.”

Securing a reliable uranium pipeline is expected to be a key topic of discussion when Modi sits down with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Thursday.