Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia in November 2014 was the first for an Indian Prime Minister in almost three decades and promised much. Modi declared that Australia was no longer on the ‘periphery’ of New Delhi’s ‘vision’, ‘but at the centre of our thoughts’. He pledged to work with Canberra at the G20 and regional multilateral forums, deepen the bilateral security partnership, and conclude a free trade deal. These promises were only partly realised. Progress was made in defence and security cooperation, within and outside the Quad, but a free trade deal proved too hard. Canberra struggled to maintain momentum in improving ties because of leadership challenges in Australian government and New Delhi’s preference for protectionism. This article examines these dynamics, looking back at the drivers of the strategic partnership, as well as at the challenges encountered in the Modi era.

纳伦德拉·莫迪（Narendra Modi）于2014年11月访问澳大利亚，这是印度总理近三十年来的首次访问，并承诺了很多。莫迪宣布澳大利亚不再处于新德里“视野”的“边缘”，而是“处于我们思想的中心”。他承诺在20国集团（G20）和地区多边论坛上与堪培拉合作，加深双边安全伙伴关系，并达成自由贸易协定。这些承诺只是部分实现。四方之内和之外的国防与安全合作都取得了进展，但事实证明，自由贸易协定太难了。由于澳大利亚政府的领导层挑战以及新德里对贸易保护主义的偏爱，堪培拉努力保持改善联系的势头。本文回顾了这些动态，回顾了战略合作伙伴关系的驱动因素，