Australian Army Deputy Chief Major General Chris Smith, DSC, AM, CSC, called on Gen Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The two officers exchanged views on the evolving geostrategic environment. They also discussed avenues to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation through enhanced interoperability, military-to-military engagement, joint training and professional exchanges between the Indian Army and the Australian Army.

Australian Army Deputy Chief meets COAS on regional security

The interaction reaffirmed the commitment of both Armies to strengthening institutional ties and fostering mutual trust, along with a shared vision for regional security and stability.

Maj Gen Smith presented Gen Seth with a plaque bearing the Australian Army's Rising Sun badge.


Call on the closing day of the Army Staff Talks

The Australian Army Deputy Chief's call on the COAS came on the same day that the 13th India-Australia Army-to-Army Staff Talks concluded in New Delhi. That round ran from Monday to Wednesday and covered expanding the scope and scale of engagement between the two Armies. The Australian delegation also visited the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) and paid homage at the National War Memorial.

The framework above the Army track

The Army track runs inside a wider political framework. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese renewed the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation at the Third India-Australia Annual Summit in July. The declaration text was released by the Australian Prime Minister's office.

AUSTRAHIND and joint training

Exercise AUSTRAHIND is the main field exercise between the two Armies. The fourth edition was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth from 13 to 26 October 2025. A Gorkha Rifles battalion led the 120-strong Indian contingent. The edition focused on joint company-level operations in open and semi-desert terrain, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Amphibious training and Talisman Sabre 2027

The joint statement from the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in June noted that AUSTRAHIND has moved towards amphibious combat and littoral manoeuvre. The statement also provided for expanded Indian participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre, the biennial Australia-United States exercise, in 2027, and slated the first India-Australia joint staff talks, a tri-service format separate from the Army track, for later this year.