Australian Army Chief Visits Pune’s Southern Command to Strengthen Bilateral Defence Ties
Pune, 13th August 2025: Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, visited Headquarters Southern Command in Pune on Tuesday as part of his official tour to India from August 11–14, 2025. He was received by Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.
During their meeting, the two senior military leaders discussed avenues to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, including joint training exercises, military exchange programmes, and coordinated approaches to emerging warfare challenges. The dialogue reaffirmed the Indian Army and Australian Army’s shared commitment to enhancing strategic engagement and operational interoperability.
Lieutenant General Stuart also visited the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, where he addressed cadets on “Collective Security: An Era of Great Power Competition.” In his speech, he emphasised the importance of interoperability, mutual trust, and coordinated response capabilities to address evolving global security threats in a volatile geopolitical environment.
Before returning to New Delhi on August 14, the Australian Army Chief is scheduled to participate in additional defence cooperation engagements, including a visit to Bharat Forge Limited, where he will be briefed on India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
The visit underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and Australia and both nations’ shared commitment to a stable, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
