In a landmark development for Indo-Australian defence ties, India has joined Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise, Talisman Sabre, for the first time. This marks a significant step in expanding cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, confirmed the development on X, calling it “a significant step forward in deepening India-Australia cooperation on defence and security in the Indo-Pacific.”
The biennial exercise, now in its 11th edition, officially commenced on Sunday aboard HMAS Adelaide following an opening ceremony attended by Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations (Australia), and Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, US Army Pacific Deputy Commanding General.
According to Australia’s Department of Defence, more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations are participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, with activities taking place across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Christmas Island, and for the first time, extending into Papua New Guinea.
Apart from India, other key participants include the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, South Korea, Indonesia, and Canada, among others. Malaysia and Vietnam are present as observer nations.
The three-week-long exercise will showcase a wide array of live-fire drills, amphibious landings, aerial and maritime operations, and ground combat manoeuvres. It will also highlight new Australian Defence Force capabilities, such as the UH-60M Black Hawks and Precision Strike Missiles.
India’s debut in the Talisman Sabre reflects its growing engagement with regional security frameworks and commitment to strengthening military interoperability with Indo-Pacific partners.