Our Bureau
Canberra
India will participate in Australia’s premier multilateral military drill, Talisman Sabre 2025, for the first time, alongside the US, and Japan, signaling a strategic alignment amid rising regional security concerns. The exercise, dubbed the “Olympics of military drills,” will involve complex operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, with a segment hosted in Papua New Guinea in July-a first in its 11-edition history.
The 2025 iteration marks a significant expansion, building on the 2023 edition that saw over 30,000 personnel from 13 nations. Australia extended the invitation following the 2021 India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue, which prioritized deeper defense collaboration. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability among allies, particularly in response to China’s growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan’s participation and Australia’s debut in Japan’s Orient Shield exercise in 2026 underscore regional efforts to counterbalance Beijing’s influence. Australia has also intensified defense negotiations with Papua New Guinea, reflecting concerns over Chinese encroachment. India’s inclusion highlights its evolving role as a net security provider, complementing recent bilateral exercises like AustraHind (November 2024) with Australia and Tiger Triumph (2025) with the US.
India and Australia’s AustraHind focused on joint tactical planning and specialized combat skills, while Exercise Vajra Prahar (2024) and Yudh Abhyas (2024) with the US emphasized counterterrorism and interoperability. These efforts align with New Delhi’s strategy to strengthen partnerships under initiatives like the Quad.
Talisman Sabre serves as a critical platform for addressing shared security challenges, including maritime disputes and cyber threats. India’s debut underscores its commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and bolsters its defense diplomacy amid escalating regional tensions.
Initiated in 2005, Talisman Sabre is Australia’s largest biennial military exercise, traditionally hosted with the US. The 2025 edition’s expansion into Papua New Guinea reflects a strategic pivot to fortify regional alliances as China intensifies its presence in the Pacific.
