Tony Abbott has signalled a broader defence partnership with India could emerge as the security interests of the "democratic superpower" align ever closer with Australia.
Mr Abbott will be ceremonially welcomed to New Delhi on Friday ahead of bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
The political capital has been decked out with Australian flags ahead of the prime minister's visit, the first by any foreign leader since Mr Modi was swept into power in May.
Mr Abbott will spend most of Friday meeting government dignitaries and attending ceremonial events, including at India's war memorial and the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
So far trade and investment has been the major focus of Mr Abbott's visit, with the federal government keen to capitalise on new business opportunities in the world's third-largest economy.
But efforts to promote maritime peace and security will also be on the agenda when the two first-term prime ministers meet in the nation's political capital New Delhi.
In an opinion piece published in the Indian press on Friday the prime minister identified two strategic objectives shared by Australia and India - greater US engagement in the region and the peaceful rise of China.
"In this endeavour we are not alone," Mr Abbott wrote.
"As our partnership grows because of this new strategic dynamic, so will our security and defence cooperation."
Australia and India became "strategic partners" in 2009 and have since agreed to begin bilateral naval exercises and engage more closely on intelligence.
Mr Modi has also just returned from a five-day trip to Japan - also a close partner of Australia - where defence cooperation and regional tensions were top of the agenda.
It's expected a deal allowing Australia to finally sell uranium to India will overcome some of the mutual mistrust that's dogged the relationship for years.
Mr Abbott is expected to announce the nuclear safeguards agreement alongside Mr Modi on Friday evening.
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