Syllabus

GS 2: International Relations

Context: 

India along with 18 other country is participating in exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, involving over 35,000 personals.

More on the News

• The exercise will also take place in Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbour. 
• The Chinese surveillance ships have monitored these exercises off Australian cost during the last four Talisman Sabre exercise and were expected to survey the current exercise.

Exercise Talisman Sabre

• It biennial multinational joint military exercise co-led by Australia and United states.
• The exercise started in 2005, and this is its 11th edition it is largest and most sophisticated exercise ever conducted in Australia.
• This year’s exercise will include live-fire exercises and field training activities, incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres and air combat and maritime operations.
• It is conducted on a number of locations across Australia and offshore using defence and non-defence training.
• The exercise spans Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, Christmas Island and Papua New Guinea.
• The 2025 edition will showcase UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Precision Strike Missile System (PrSM) and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) system by Australian defence forces.
• It is the first time Talisman Sabre have been held outside Australia.
• Operations will span across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, reflecting the modern, multi-domain nature of warfare.

Participating Nation and Observers

• In addition to US and Australia forces form India, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom are participating.
• Malaysia and Vietnam will also attend as an observers.

Defence Diplomacy and Partnerships

• This exercise occurs amid high regional tensions. Chines naval ships monitored previous drills since 2017. 
• Australia’s defence minister confirmed monitoring of Chinese presence and adjusting operation accordingly.
• The exercise coincides with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China, underscoring the delicate balance in Australia’s diplomatic and defence engagements.

Significance of India’s Involvement

• India’s participation shows its growing role in Indo-Pacific security framework.
• The exercise encourages military cooperation and strategic dialogue among democracies and regional partners.
• It also supports the collective efforts to improve regional response capabilities, strengthen defence partnerships, and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Source:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/australia-hosts-largest-ever-military-exercise-with-19-nations-likely-to-draw-chinese-attention/articleshow/122438188.cms?from=mdr