India, Australia, France pledge joint efforts for free and open Indo-Pacific amid China's growing assertiveness

India, Australia, and France have pledged to collaborate on promoting a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region in response to China's increasing assertiveness. During the third 'India-France-Australia trilateral focal points' meeting in Delhi, the countries reviewed progress under trilateral cooperation pillars and identified new proposals for furthering collaboration, including initiatives within the Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association mechanisms.