Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi visited Russell’s office 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, strengthening the growing strategic partnership between India and the country in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Indian Army, the general held wide-ranging discussions with the senior leadership of the Australian Defense Forces during his four-day visit from February 16 to 19 to review bilateral engagements and expand army-to-army cooperation.
In Sydney, the COAS interacted with the leadership of Forces Command (FORCOMD), Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) and the Australian Army’s 2nd Division. The engagements facilitated exchanges on force readiness, operational concepts and training methods.
Special attention was paid to the bilateral Army Exercise ‘Astrahind’, with both sides expressing commitment to enrich its upcoming edition to be held in India later this year.
Guard of honor
In Canberra, General Dwivedi received a ceremonial guard of honor before holding discussions with Australian Army Chief Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart. A comprehensive roundtable at Australian Defense Force Headquarters covered issues related to force modernisation, emerging technologies and future operational environments.
The Army Chief addressed officers at the Australian Command and Staff College and interacted with the leadership of the Australian Defense College, highlighting the importance of adaptive leadership, joint and multinational cooperation in navigating contemporary security challenges.
As part of his high-level engagements, General Dwivedi met the Chief of Defense Forces and the Secretary of the Department of Defence. At Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), he reviewed Australia’s integrated and multi-domain operational framework with Commander Joint Operations, gaining insights into joint planning and execution approaches.
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 sacrifice.
General Dwivedi’s visit has given new impetus to India-Australia defense ties, strengthened professional ties at the highest levels of military leadership and underscored the shared determination of the two countries to contribute to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Published – February 20, 2026 08:49 pm IST
