Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi during his visit to the Russell Offices in Australia on February 18. Photo credit: PTI
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi concluded his official visit to Australia on February 19 to strengthen the growing strategic partnership between India and the country in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Indian Army, during the four-day visit from February 16 to 19, the general held wide-ranging talks with the senior leadership of the Australian Defense Force to review bilateral commitments and expand cooperation between the militaries.
In Sydney, the COAS worked with the leadership of Forces Command (FORCOMD), Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) and the Australian Army’s 2nd Division. The tasks facilitated the exchange of information on force readiness, operational concepts and training methodologies.
Special emphasis was placed on the bilateral army exercise ‘AUSTRAHIND’, with both sides expressing their commitment to enrich its upcoming edition to be held in India later this year.
Guard of honor
In Canberra, General Dwivedi was given a ceremonial guard of honor before substantive talks took place with Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, the Chief of the Australian Army. A comprehensive roundtable at Australian Defense Force Headquarters addressed issues related to force modernisation, new technologies and future operational environments.
The Army Chief also addressed officers of the Australian Command and Staff Academy and interacted with the leadership of the Australian Defense Academy, stressing the importance of adaptive leadership, cohesion and multinational cooperation in meeting today’s security challenges.
As part of his high-level assignments, General Dwivedi called on the Chief of Defense Forces and the Defense Secretary. At the Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), he explored Australia’s integrated and multidisciplinary operational framework with the Joint Operations Commander and gained insight into joint planning and execution mechanisms.
The visit also included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, where the COAS paid tribute to fallen soldiers and recognized the shared legacy of the victims.
General Dwivedi’s visit has injected new impetus into Indo-Australian defense ties, strengthened professional ties at the highest levels of military leadership and underscored the joint commitment of both nations to contribute to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 20:49 IST