Australian Army Chief to Visit India This Month as Indo-Pacific Military Ties Strengthen

Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, is scheduled to visit India from August 10 to 14. During his visit, he will engage in high-level discussions with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Indian Army, and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence. This visit reflects the growing strategic cooperation between India and Australia, particularly in the military domain, as both countries strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and work together to uphold a stable, rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

This visit comes just four months after India’s Chief of Defence Staff visited Australia and held crucial meetings with Admiral David Johnston and other top officials. Their discussions centered on deepening military cooperation, focusing on maritime security, joint exercises, defence technology exchange, and bilateral initiatives. The upcoming India–Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, to be held in Australia in 2025, along with the 2023 Defence Policy Talks, further demonstrates the regularity and importance of strategic defence engagements between the two countries.

The bilateral military relationship has grown significantly in recent years, particularly through staff-level talks, working groups, and cooperation in logistics, capability development, and interoperability. According to sources, the Indian Army–Australian Army relationship has become a cornerstone of the broader defence partnership, marked by regular training, joint exercises, and operational deployments.

One of the most notable bilateral exercises is Exercise AUSTRAHIND, initiated in 2016. It is a field training exercise focused on counter-terrorism, joint tactical operations, and close-quarter battle. Participation from both the Indian Army and Australia’s 1st Brigade has steadily increased, and the next edition is scheduled for November 2025 in Australia. In addition to AUSTRAHIND, the Indian Army has actively participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre, a large-scale multinational drill hosted by Australia. The Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE-22) also involved the Indian Army in joint field and professional exchanges.

Training and academic cooperation form a key pillar of the relationship. Indian Army officers attend Australian courses such as the Defence and Strategic Studies Course, Army Command and Staff Course, and Combined Defence Intelligence and Research Analysis Course. Similarly, Australian officers participate in Indian programmes at the National Defence College (NDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), and the Higher Defence Orientation Course (HDOC). The Instructor Exchange Programme at India’s Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Vairengte and frequent Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) have deepened mutual doctrinal understanding.

The India–Australia Young Officers Exchange Programme, launched in 2022 and envisioned by late General Bipin Rawat, has enabled young officers to jointly train and understand each other’s field practices—building synergy in future leadership.

The Army-to-Army Staff Talks, launched in 2010, have evolved into annual dialogues since 2016, serving as a platform for discussing strategic issues of regional and global importance. Moreover, Indian defence exports to Australia have showcased indigenous capabilities in tactical systems and mobility solutions. Collaborative development initiatives, such as those between India’s Army Design Bureau and Australia’s Digger Works, aim to produce effective battlefield technologies.

Lieutenant General Stuart’s visit highlights the Indian Army’s emergence as a credible regional partner and reinforces the long-term commitment to operational synergy and strategic trust in the Indo-Pacific.