Army Chief maps out ways to expand defense cooperation during Australia visit India News

New Delhi: During his visit to Australia from February 16 to 19, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi had extensive engagement with the senior leadership of the Australian Defense Force, reviewed ongoing bilateral engagements and mapped out avenues to expand inter-Army cooperation.Discussions focused on expanding the scope and complexity of joint exercises, enhancing exchanges of professional military education and promoting greater interoperability between the two militaries. An Army statement said his visit advances defense cooperation between India and Australia and deepens the strategic alliance between the two countries.As part of high-level interactions, General Dwivedi called on the Defense Minister and the Defense Secretary. The statement pointed out that at Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), the general reviewed Australia’s integrated multi-domain operations framework with the joint operations commander and gained an in-depth understanding of joint planning and execution mechanisms.In Sydney, General Dwivedi interacted with the leadership of the Australian Army Command, Special Operations Command and the Second Division. These exchanges allow both sides to share perspectives on unit readiness, operational concepts and training methods. The bilateral Army exercise ‘Exercise Australian Army’ has received special attention, with both sides expressing their commitment to further enrich the upcoming exercises in India in 2026.In Canberra, General Dwivedi held substantive discussions with Australian Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Simon Stewart. The two leaders leveraged their shared professional associations as alumni of the U.S. Army War College (Class of 2015) to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening institutional ties and expanding avenues for collaboration. A comprehensive roundtable discussion at Australian Defense Force Headquarters explored issues related to force modernization, emerging technologies and the future operating environment. The Chief of Army Staff also called on Lieutenant General Justin Jones, Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Commander, Joint Operations Command.