Australia launched its largest-ever military exercise, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, on July 13, 2025, bringing together over 35,000 personnel from 19 nations in a three-week demonstration of military prowess and interoperability across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, Christmas Island, and, for the first time, Papua New Guinea. The biennial war games, which began with an opening ceremony in Sydney, involve the United States, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, with Malaysia and Vietnam as observers. Amid anticipated Chinese surveillance, the exercise underscores Australia’s strategic role in fostering Indo-Pacific security and aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of global leadership through enhanced defense cooperation.
A Multilateral Show of Force
Initiated in 2005 as a bilateral U.S.-Australia exercise, Talisman Sabre has evolved into a premier multilateral platform, showcasing advanced military capabilities across land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains. The 2025 iteration, the 11th and largest to date, features cutting-edge operations, including Australia’s first-ever live-fire use of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), acquired from the United States. Brigadier Nick Wilson described the HIMARS launch at Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area—a 4,500 square kilometer Outback expanse—as a “remarkable day” for the Australian Army, highlighting its adoption of long-range, multi-domain platforms capable of striking targets with precision.
The exercise includes complex maneuvers such as amphibious landings, air combat operations, and cyber defense drills, designed to enhance interoperability among participating nations. The inclusion of Papua New Guinea as a new venue reflects the exercise’s growing regional scope, emphasizing Australia’s commitment to strengthening security ties with Pacific Island nations. The participation of advanced assets, such as the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (featuring HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond) and Australia’s F-35 jets, underscores the technological sophistication of the drills.
Strategic Context and Chinese Surveillance
Talisman Sabre 2025 takes place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly due to China’s assertive military and economic activities in the South China Sea and beyond. Chinese surveillance ships have monitored the past four iterations of the exercise, and Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed that such activity is expected again, stating, “It’s very unusual for them not to observe.” As of July 13, no Chinese vessels had been detected, but Australia is prepared to “observe their activities and monitor their presence” while adjusting operations to maintain security.
The exercise coincides with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s six-day visit to China, starting July 15, 2025, where he met President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and diplomatic ties. Albanese downplayed concerns about Chinese surveillance, noting, “That would be nothing unusual. That has happened in the past, and I’ll continue to assert Australia’s national interest.” This dual engagement—hosting a massive military exercise while pursuing diplomacy with China—highlights Australia’s delicate balancing act in the region.
Posts on X reflect the strategic significance of the exercise, with users describing it as a “powerful signal to China” and a demonstration of “Bharat’s growing might” through India’s participation. The presence of Quad nations (U.S., Japan, India, and Australia) underscores the exercise’s role in countering China’s regional ambitions, particularly in disputed maritime areas.
India’s Pivotal Role
India’s participation in Talisman Sabre 2025 marks a significant milestone in its defense ties with Australia, building on bilateral exercises like AUSTRAHIND, AUSINDEX, and PITCHBLACK. The third edition of AUSTRAHIND, held in Pune in November 2024, focused on counter-terrorism and sub-conventional operations, while AUSINDEX and PITCHBLACK have strengthened naval and air cooperation. India’s involvement alongside Quad partners reinforces its strategic alignment with like-minded nations committed to a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
India’s defense modernization, including plans for domestic production of Russian R-37M hypersonic missiles and maintenance facilities for S-400 air defense systems, enhances its contributions to multinational exercises. Talisman Sabre provides Indian forces with opportunities to train with advanced platforms like HIMARS and F-35s, fostering interoperability and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. This aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which emphasizes global leadership through defense self-reliance and regional security cooperation.
Regional and Global Implications
The inclusion of 19 nations, ranging from NATO allies (UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway) to Indo-Pacific partners (Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Philippines), reflects a collective commitment to regional stability. The exercise’s expansion to Papua New Guinea signals Australia’s intent to deepen ties with Pacific Island nations, countering China’s growing influence in the region. The participation of Fiji, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea highlights the exercise’s inclusivity, fostering a broader Indo-Pacific security network.
Talisman Sabre 2025 also serves as a platform for testing emerging technologies and strategies, such as cyber warfare and space-based operations, critical for modern conflicts. The involvement of advanced assets like the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and Australia’s HIMARS underscores the exercise’s focus on integrating multi-domain capabilities, preparing allied forces for complex, high-intensity scenarios.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the exercise showcases military strength, it also highlights challenges, such as Australia’s need to balance defense priorities with economic ties to China, its largest trading partner. Strained Australia-China relations, exacerbated by trade disputes and Australia’s call for a COVID-19 origins inquiry in 2020, add complexity to the regional dynamic. China’s expected surveillance underscores the need for operational secrecy and robust counter-intelligence measures.
For participating nations like India, opportunities abound. Exposure to advanced military systems and joint training enhances India’s operational readiness and strengthens strategic partnerships. However, India faces challenges in reducing reliance on foreign defense supplies, as seen in delays with American GE F404 engines for the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet. Initiatives like the DRDO’s Mounted Gun System (MGS) reflect India’s push for self-reliance, which will bolster its role in future exercises.
A Unified Front for Indo-Pacific Security
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 is a landmark event, showcasing Australia’s leadership in fostering multilateral defense cooperation and reinforcing Indo-Pacific security. With 35,000 personnel, 19 nations, and cutting-edge operations across multiple domains, the exercise sends a powerful message of unity and readiness amid Chinese surveillance and regional tensions. India’s participation, alongside Quad and other allies, underscores its rising global influence and commitment to a rules-based order.
As Australia navigates its strategic and economic priorities, Talisman Sabre 2025 strengthens alliances and prepares participating nations for future challenges. For India, the exercise aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047, enhancing its defense capabilities and positioning it as a key player in the Indo-Pacific. This historic war game not only demonstrates military might but also lays the foundation for a secure and cooperative regional future.
