Exercise Talisman Sabre Begins with 35,000 Troops Across Australia, Papua New Guinea

Australia has commenced Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise in its history, involving over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and others. For the first time, activities are being conducted outside Australia, specifically in Papua New Guinea, marking an expansion of the exercise's scope. The drills encompass live-fire exercises, amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, and air and maritime operations, showcasing new Australian Defence Force capabilities such as UH-60M Black Hawks and Precision Strike Missiles. Chinese surveillance ships have historically monitored this exercise since 2017 and are expected to observe again in 2025, prompting Australian officials to adjust their operations accordingly while monitoring Chinese activities. The exercise underscores the strong defense alliance between Australia and the United States and occurs amid heightened regional tensions, including Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China and ongoing geopolitical pressures related to U.S.-China relations. Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy emphasized the importance of balancing robust training with awareness of the regional security environment.