Australia has launched the largest-ever military exercise in its history, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, drawing together more than 35,000 troops from 19 nations in an expansive display of military cooperation and readiness across the Indo-Pacific region. The drills, which began on July 13, 2025, mark a significant escalation in scale and complexity compared to previous iterations, underscoring Australia's pivotal role in regional security and its deepening alliance with the United States.
For the first time, the exercise extends beyond Australian shores to include Papua New Guinea, broadening the geographical scope of the operation and signaling a more inclusive approach to regional defense partnerships. Over the course of three weeks, participating forces will deploy across multiple Australian states—Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Christmas Island—before moving operations to Papua New Guinea. This unprecedented expansion reflects the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific and the desire of allied nations to strengthen collective military capabilities.
The exercise, which originated in 2005 as a biennial joint effort between Australia and the United States, now includes a diverse coalition of countries. Among the participants are Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, with Malaysia and Vietnam attending as observers. India’s involvement in Talisman Sabre 2025 is particularly notable, marking its continued engagement in multilateral military collaborations in the region.
Exercise activities are as varied as the participating nations, encompassing live-fire drills, amphibious landings, field maneuvers, and integrated air and maritime combat operations. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is showcasing advanced capabilities, including the deployment of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and Precision Strike Missiles, alongside the recent introduction of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). On July 14, 2025, the Australian Army live-fired HIMARS missiles for the first time during live-fire exercises at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, a vast 4,500 square kilometer Outback expanse, marking a milestone in the country’s military modernization efforts.
Brigadier Nick Wilson highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range, multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day.” The live-fire component underscores the exercise’s emphasis on readiness and interoperability among allied forces, preparing them for complex, multi-domain warfare scenarios.
The opening ceremony for Talisman Sabre 2025 was held at Garden Island in Sydney aboard the Australian naval ship HMAS Adelaide. The event was officiated by Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations for the Royal Australian Navy, and Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific. Vice Admiral Jones emphasized the exercise’s value, describing it as an “unrivalled opportunity to train together across sea, land, air, space and cyber domains.” He further remarked that the drills demonstrate “Australia’s enduring commitment to strengthening relationships between trusted allies and partners, in support of a peaceful, stable and sovereign Indo-Pacific.”
Throughout the planning and execution phases, the Australian Defence Force has engaged extensively with state authorities, traditional landowners, and other stakeholders to ensure the exercise proceeds safely and respectfully. “We have been conducting site surveys and meetings with state authorities, traditional owners and key stakeholders to inform a safe and productive exercise for all participating nations,” Vice Admiral Jones added.
While the scale and scope of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 are impressive, the drills have also attracted significant attention from China. Chinese surveillance ships have been monitoring the exercises off the Australian coast since 2017 and are expected to continue doing so during the current iteration. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy acknowledged this ongoing surveillance, noting, “The Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017. It’d be very unusual for them not to observe it.” However, Conroy downplayed any immediate concern, adding, “We’ll adjust accordingly. We’ll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia, but we’ll also adjust how we conduct those exercises.”
The presence of Chinese spy ships highlights the delicate balance Australia and its allies must maintain amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The drills come at a time when fears of escalating conflicts, including the specter of a potential third World War, have been growing. Yet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who began a six-day visit to China on July 12, 2025, expressed a measured stance on the issue. Albanese is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and stated that Chinese surveillance of Talisman Sabre would not be a topic of discussion. “That would be nothing unusual. That has happened in the past and I’ll continue to assert Australia’s national interest, as I do,” Albanese told reporters in Shanghai.
Albanese also reflected on his diplomatic engagements, noting that while he had visited the United States five times as prime minister, he had only been to China twice. He expressed optimism about relations with the United States, saying, “I look forward to a constructive engagement with President Trump. We have had three constructive phone conversations.” His remarks underscore the complex diplomatic dance Australia performs as it navigates its security alliances and economic ties in a volatile regional environment.
The scale of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, involving thousands of troops and a wide array of military assets from multiple nations, sends a clear message of preparedness and unity. The live-fire exercises, amphibious landings, cyber operations, and coordinated movements across land, sea, air, and space domains demonstrate a comprehensive approach to modern warfare training. As the drills progress, they will test the interoperability and resilience of allied forces, ensuring they are ready to respond to any regional contingencies.
In sum, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 stands as a landmark event in Australia’s defense history. It not only enhances military cooperation among a broad coalition of nations but also signals Australia’s strategic commitment to maintaining a peaceful, stable, and sovereign Indo-Pacific region amid growing geopolitical challenges. The exercise’s expansion into Papua New Guinea and the inclusion of new technologies like HIMARS and Black Hawk helicopters reflect evolving defense priorities and the increasing complexity of modern military operations.
As the drills continue, all eyes will remain on the Indo-Pacific, watching how these multinational forces train together and how regional powers respond to this formidable display of allied strength.
