Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi Visits Australia

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi was on an official visit to Australia from 16-19 February 2026. The visit aimed at further strengthening India-Australia defence cooperation and reinforcing the growing convergence between the two nations.

As part of his visit, the COAS held wide-ranging interactions with senior leadership of the Australian defence forces, focused on enhancing army-to-army engagements including training, joint exercises, professional exchanges and capacity building.

In Sydney, the COAS engaged with senior hierarchy of Forces Command (FORCOMD), Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) and 2nd Division. It is noteworthy that the troops of 2nd Division participate in the bilateral Army Exercise AUSTRAHIND, the next edition of which is scheduled to take place in India in 2026.

On arrival in Canberra, the day began with a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour, followed by interaction with Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of Australian Army. The Chief of Australian Army and General Upendra Dwivedi are alumni of the US Army War College Class of 2015 and share a strong professional bond. The meeting was followed by a comprehensive round table discussion at the Australian Defence Forces Headquarters, on the aspects of defence cooperation, modernisation and futuristic operations. The COAS also interacted with the Commander of Australian Defence College and addressed the officers at the Australian Command and Staff College.

In series of high-level meetings, the COAS called on Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Secretary of Department of Defence. Furthermore, he visited Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), where he met the Commander Joint Operations and was briefed on operational dynamics of Australian Defence Forces including integrated and multi domain operations.

 The COAS laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial to pay homage to the fallen soldiers and honoured the shared legacy of sacrifice and service. He also met the Indian Defence Veterans in Australia, underscoring the enduring bond between the Indian Armed Forces and its veterans.

The visit reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to further enhancing defence cooperation and jointly contributing to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.