India’s Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi is on a four-day official visit to Australia from 16 – 19 February 2026, in a move aimed at further strengthening India-Australia defence cooperation and reinforcing the growing convergence between the two nations.
During his visit, General Dwivedi held wide-ranging interactions with senior leadership of the Australian Defence Forces, focusing on enhancing army-to-army engagements through training, joint exercises, professional exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives.
In Sydney, the COAS met with senior personnel from Forces Command (FORCOMD), Special Operations Command (SOCOMD), and the 2nd Division, which regularly participates in the bilateral Army Exercise AUSTRAHIND. The next edition of the exercise is scheduled to take place in India later this year.
Upon arrival in Canberra, General Dwivedi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour, followed by a meeting with Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army.
Both generals, alumni of the US Army War College Class of 2015, share a strong professional bond. Discussions at the Australian Defence Forces Headquarters will cover defence cooperation, modernisation, and future operational strategies.
The COAS also interacted with the Commander of the Australian Defence College and address officers at the Australian Command and Staff College, further highlighting professional collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two armies.
High-level engagements also included meetings with the Chief of Defence Forces, the Secretary of the Department of Defence, and the Commander of Headquarters Joint Operations, where General Dwivedi will be briefed on Australia’s integrated and multi-domain operational strategies.
He was apprised of the capabilities of Australian Special Forces, joint training frameworks and operational preparedness mechanisms. The leaders also discussed avenues for further enhancement of bilateral engagement, reaffirming the enduring partnership between the armed forces of both nations.
In a mark of respect, the COAS will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial to honour fallen soldiers and underscore the shared legacy of service and sacrifice. He will also meet Indian defence veterans residing in Australia, reinforcing the enduring connection between the Indian Armed Forces and its former personnel.
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