Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan will visit Australia from March 4 to March 7 to enhance defence cooperation between the two nations.

The visit reflects the deepening military collaboration between India and Australia, focusing on strategic coordination, training, and operational synergy, the Ministry of Defence stated on Monday.

During his stay, Gen Chauhan will hold high-level discussions with senior officials from the Australian Department of Defence and the leadership of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Key meetings include interactions with Australia’s Chief of Defence Force, General Admiral David Johnston, Secretary of Defence Greg Moriarty, and the Chiefs of the three Services.

As part of his itinerary, Gen Chauhan will visit the Force Command Headquarters to gain insights into Australia’s operational command structure and explore joint operational opportunities. He will also engage with the Australian Fleet Commander and the Joint Operations Commander to discuss maritime security and regional defence challenges.

Reaffirming India’s commitment to military education and professional development, Gen Chauhan will visit the Australian Defence College, where he will address senior officers on strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, he will lead a roundtable discussion at the Lowy Institute, a prominent Australian think tank, focusing on Indo-Pacific security and defence collaboration.

The Ministry of Defence emphasized that this visit underscores the growing Indo-Australian defence partnership under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aimed at strengthening military and diplomatic ties in the Indo-Pacific region.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 visit to Australia, the defence relationship has expanded significantly, including research, development, and industry collaboration. Regular ministerial meetings, maritime exercises, and service-to-service dialogues have further bolstered ties.

In 2015, India’s then-Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, signed a Technical Agreement on White Shipping Information Exchange with Australia to enhance maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

India and Australia share a long-standing defence relationship, dating back to World War I, when soldiers from both countries fought together in Gallipoli and along the Western Front. The partnership was formally strengthened through the 2006 Memorandum on Defence Cooperation and the 2009 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.

With expanding strategic dialogues, high-level visits, and training exchanges, General Chauhan’s visit is expected to further solidify Indo-Australian defence ties, ensuring regional security and stability.