Exercise Talisman Sabre: Military train drawing 19 nations, 35,000 forces begins in Australia

Talisman Sabre started in 2005 as a biennial joint train between the United States and Australia. This 12 months, greater than 35,000 navy personnel from 19 nations, together with Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, will participate over three weeks, Australia’s protection division mentioned on Sunday (July 13, 2025).

Malaysia and Vietnam are additionally attending as observers.

The train will even participate in Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbour. It is the primary time Talisman Sabre actions have been held outdoors Australia.

Chinese surveillance ships have monitored naval workout routines off the Australian coast over the last 4 Talisman Sabre workout routines and had been anticipated to surveil the present train, Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy mentioned.

“The Chinese navy have noticed these workout routines since 2017. It’d be very uncommon for them to not observe it,” Mr. Conroy instructed the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“We’ll regulate accordingly. We’ll clearly observe their actions and monitor their presence round Australia, however we’ll additionally regulate how we conduct these workout routines,” Mr. Conroy added.

Mr. Conroy mentioned the Chinese weren’t but shadowing ships as of Sunday.

The train formally began on Sunday with a ceremony in Sydney attended by Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific Lt. Gen. J.B. Vowell and Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Vice-Adm. Justin Jones.

The train, showcasing Australia’s protection alliance with the United States, began a day after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese started a six-day go to to China, the place he’s anticipated to carry his fourth face-to-face assembly with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday (July 15, 2025).

Mr. Albanese mentioned Chinese surveillance of Talisman Sabre wouldn’t be a difficulty raised with Mr. Xi.

“That could be nothing uncommon. That has occurred up to now and I’ll proceed to claim Australia’s nationwide curiosity, as I do,” Mr. Albanese instructed reporters in Shanghai Monday (July 13, 2025).

Mr. Albanese additionally famous that whereas he had visited the United States as prime minister 5 occasions, he had solely been to China twice.

The Australian chief has been criticized at dwelling for failing to safe a face-to-face assembly with U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I stay up for a constructive engagement with President Trump. We have had three constructive cellphone conversations,” Mr. Albanese mentioned.