Australian High Commissioner visits AUSTRAHIND 2026, highlights India-Australia defence ties

Thiruvananthapuram: Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green visited the ongoing India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on October 25, highlighting India's growing importance as a security partner and the need for closer defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He stressed the strategic importance of the eastern Indian Ocean in connecting the two countries.

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The fifth edition of AUSTRAHIND began on October 19 and continues until November 1, with approximately 120 personnel each from the Indian and Australian armies participating. The Indian contingent included troops from the Garhwal Rifles, while Australia is represented by its 13th Brigade.

The exercise focuses on joint sub-conventional operations in island and coastal environments. Troops conduct joint planning, tactical drills and combat-oriented training, including surveillance, reconnaissance, protection of vital installations and responses to humanitarian emergencies.

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Green said joint exercises strengthen strategic trust, operational interoperability and military-to-military cooperation. The training will also help both armies develop a common understanding of tactics and procedures for operating in challenging coastal and island terrain.

For the first time, an observer delegation from New Zealand is participating in AUSTRAHIND, adding a broader regional dimension to the exercise. The engagement reinforced India and Australia's shared commitment to regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific amid evolving security challenges.

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