**Executive Summary**
General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), will undertake an official visit to Australia from February 16 to 19, 2026. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen India-Australia defense cooperation. Key activities include interactions with Australian Defence Forces leadership, meetings with defense officials, and participation in discussions on defense cooperation and modernization.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose:** The visit aims to strengthen India-Australia defense cooperation and reinforce convergence between the two nations.
* **Timing:** The visit is scheduled for February 16-19, 2026.
* **Meetings and Engagements:**
* COAS will interact with senior leaders of the Australian Defence Forces.
* Focus will be on enhancing army-to-army engagements, including training, joint exercises, professional exchanges, and capacity building.
* **Sydney Engagements:**
* COAS will engage with senior hierarchy of Forces Command (FORCOMD), Special Operations Command (SOCOMD), and 2nd Division.
* Troops of 2nd Division participate in Exercise AUSTRAHIND, scheduled for 2026 in India.
* **Canberra Engagements:**
* Ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour will be held.
* Interaction with Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of Australian Army, who is an alumni with General Dwivedi from the US Army War College Class of 2015.
* Round table discussion at Australian Defence Forces Headquarters on defense cooperation, modernisation, and futuristic operations.
* Interaction with the Commander of Australian Defence College and address to the officers at the Australian Command and Staff College.
* **High-Level Meetings:**
* COAS will call on Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Secretary of Department of Defence.
* Visit to Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) to meet the Commander Joint Operations and be briefed on operational dynamics.
* **Memorial and Veteran Visit:**
* COAS will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial.
* COAS will meet Indian Defence Veterans in Australia.
**Impact Analysis**
**Australian Defence Forces Leadership**
* **Impact:** Engagements with COAS aim to strengthen defence cooperation between India and Australia.
* **Action Required:** Participate in meetings and discussions focused on army-to-army engagements, training, joint exercises, professional exchanges, and capacity building.
**Indian Army**
* **Impact:** Further opportunity to collaborate and strengthen ties with the Australian Army.
* **Action Required:** Prepare for participation in the next edition of Exercise AUSTRAHIND, scheduled for 2026 in India.
**Indian Defence Veterans in Australia**
* **Impact:** Their service and connection to the Indian Armed Forces will be acknowledged.
* **Action Required:** None Specified.
**Indian and Australian Governments**
* **Impact:** Reinforces the commitment to enhance defence cooperation and contribute to peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and facilitate collaborative efforts in defence and security.
Key Entities Referenced
Upendra Dwivedi: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, embarking on an official visit to Australia.
Australia: Location of the official visit, central to the scope of the defense cooperation initiative.
Australian Defence Forces: The military organization with which the Chief of the Army Staff will interact to enhance army-to-army engagements and defence cooperation.
Forces Command (FORCOMD): One of the commands within the Australian Defence Forces that the COAS will engage with.
AUSTRAHIND: Bilateral Army Exercise between Australia and India, with participation from the 2nd Division.
Ministry of Defence
CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF, GENERAL
UPENDRA DWIVEDI IS SET TO PROCEED ON
VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
Posted On: 14 FEB 2026 6:05PM by PIB Delhi
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi is set to embark on an official visit to
Australia from 16 to 19 February 2026. The visit is aimed at further strengthening India - Australia
defence cooperation and reinforcing the growing convergence between the two nations.
As part of his visit, the COAS will hold wide-ranging interactions with senior leadership of the Australian
Defence Forces, focussed on enhancing army-to-army engagements including training, joint exercises,
professional exchanges and capacity building.
In Sydney, the COAS will engage 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 will begin 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 will be followed by a comprehensive round table discussion in
Australian Defence Forces Headquarters, on the aspects of defence cooperation, modernisation and
futuristic operations. The COAS will also interact with the Commander of Australian Defence College and
address the officers at the Australian Command and Staff College.
In series of high-level meetings, the COAS will call-on Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Secretary of
Department of Defence. Furthermore, he will visit Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC),
where he will meet the Commander Joint Operations and will be briefed on operational dynamics ofAustralian Defence Forces including integrated and multi domain operations.
The COAS will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial to pay homage to the fallen soldiers and
honour the shared legacy of sacrifice and service. He will also meet the Indian Defence Veterans residing
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.
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