Talisman Sabre 2025
Australia has begun the biggest version of its main military exercise, Talisman Sabre, with more than 35,000 troops from 19 countries taking part. The exercise took place mostly at the large Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. It was a big step forward in Australia’s regional defense cooperation.
The most recent Talisman Sabre exercise not only shows off advanced weapons systems like the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), but it also demonstrates how Australia is positioning itself strategically as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia Fires HIMARS for First Time
During Talisman Sabre, Australia’s army was able to successfully fire its new HIMARS platform, which it had bought from the United States. The launch happened during a live-fire session in Queensland’s Outback, which covered an area of 1,700 square miles. Brigadier Nick Wilson called the event a “remarkable day” because it was the first time the Australian Army had used live-fire, long-range, multi-domain platforms. This event shows how the country’s military has changed and how it fits into the bigger picture of Allied plans.
Talisman Sabre Goes from a Drill Between Two Countries to a Global Exercise
Talisman Sabre started in 2005 as a joint exercise between the US and Australia, but it has since grown to include many countries. The 2025 version has troops from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and a few Indo-Pacific partners, like Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. There are also observers from Malaysia and Vietnam, which shows how important the drill is becoming in terms of politics.
This year’s exercise is the first to go beyond Australian soil, with activities now going on in Papua New Guinea. This expansion makes it easier for Pacific countries to work together and strengthens Australia’s role as a regional security anchor.
We expect Chinese spying, but it’s not unexpected.
Australia expects Chinese surveillance ships to show up during Talisman Sabre because they have been watching the last four exercises since 2017. Pat Conroy, the Minister of Defense Industry, said that as of Sunday, no Chinese ships had been seen, but they would be seen regularly. “It would be very strange for them not to see it,” expressed Conroy. He also stated that Australian troops would alter their plans and closely monitor any foreign activity near their coast.
These spying efforts show how important Talisman Sabre has become in the bigger picture of strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
The formal launch shows that the US and Australia have strong defense ties.
The official start of the exercise was a ceremony in Sydney. High-ranking officials were there, such as Lt. Gen. J.B. Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations for Australia. Their presence highlights the strength of the US-Australia defense alliance in today’s increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security environment.
Both nations are actively adapting military strategies to address rising regional threats and enhance joint operational readiness.
Albanese Visits China While Military Drill Goes On
The official start of Talisman Sabre happened to be at the same time as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to China. Albanese is going to meet with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, but he stressed that the fact that China is watching the exercise won’t be a topic of conversation. “That wouldn’t be considered unusual… “I’ll keep saying that Australia’s national interest is important,” Albanese told reporters in Shanghai.
His words show how challenging it is for Australia to balance its relationships with Beijing and Washington and its military ties with regional allies.
Conclusion
The strategic importance of Talisman Sabre is rising as the exercise expands in scale and complexity each year. Its growth reflects the evolving strategic goals of participating nations and shifting Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
With advanced platforms like HIMARS and broader international involvement, Australia is emerging as a key regional stabilizing force. Meanwhile, China’s likely surveillance underscores persistent geopolitical tensions surrounding these high-profile military operations.
As defense cooperation strengthens across the Pacific, Talisman Sabre has become more than a simple training exercise. It now symbolizes the shared strategic resolve and commitment of democratic allies toward maintaining regional peace and deterrence.
