India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, met with Australian Chief of Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, in Canberra on March 5. Their discussions centred on advancing practical initiatives to realize the long-term vision of a robust defence and security partnership that strengthens collective capabilities and enhances regional stability.
Australia considers India a top-tier security partner, with both nations committed to fostering a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The visit reinforced cooperation on shared strategic priorities, including maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and joint deployments from each other’s territories, according to the Australian Defence Statement.
Welcoming General Chauhan, Admiral Johnston stated, “It was a pleasure to host General Chauhan on his first official visit to Canberra. His visit highlights the depth of our defence partnership with India. We remain committed to enhancing interoperability, strengthening people-to-people ties, and deepening cooperation with key partners to promote regional security and stability.”
According to an official Australian defence statement, India and Australia have maintained a high tempo of joint exercises and activities across maritime, land, and air domains. These collaborations are facilitated through their bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and trilateral and quadrilateral engagements.
This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Chief of Defence Staff to Australia. During his official tour from March 4-7, General Chauhan will engage with senior defence leaders, including Australia’s Secretary of Defence, Greg Moriarty, and the Chiefs of the three services.
As part of his engagements, General Chauhan will visit the Force Command Headquarters to gain insights into Australia’s operational command structure and explore avenues for joint operations. He will also interact with the Australian Fleet and Joint Operations Commander, furthering discussions on maritime security and regional stability.
In line with India’s commitment to professional military education, General Chauhan will visit the Australian Defence College to address senior officers on strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, he will chair a roundtable discussion at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading think tank, to exchange perspectives on evolving regional security dynamics.
Team BharatShakti
