From July 13 to August 4, 2025, Australia is hosting the largest military exercise ever conducted on its soil. Known as Talisman Sabre, this major multinational training operation will bring together over 30,000 troops from 19 nations, against a backdrop of mounting tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise will span several Australian states and, for the first time, will extend into Papua New Guinea, reflecting the growing strategic stakes in the region. The goal: to test the interoperability of allied forces in the face of increasingly complex regional security challenges.
A broad coalition on land, at sea, in the air and beyond
The exercise will mobilize an unprecedented military coalition, including Australia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and other Indo-Pacific and NATO partners. Live-fire drills, amphibious landings, cyber and space operations, and extensive maritime coordination are planned. Countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam will take part as observers.
Operations will take place across multiple Australian regions, including Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Christmas Island. Large-scale naval maneuvers will also be held in the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
France: a key player in the Indo-Pacific region
France’s participation in Talisman Sabre 2025 reflects its growing commitment to regional security in the Indo-Pacific, where it considers itself a resident power. With overseas territories such as New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna, France will deploy a significant military contingent including naval, air, and ground units. The dual objective: strengthen interoperability with Australian and American forces, and reaffirm its strategic role in the region. The exercise will also highlight the expeditionary capabilities of the French armed forces, especially in rapid deployment and joint-force cooperation.
A strategic signal to Beijing
Talisman Sabre also serves a clear geopolitical purpose. As China continues to expand its military footprint in the South China Sea and the wider Pacific, the exercise sends a strong message amid rising regional tensions. The AUKUS alliance, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States plays a central role in demonstrating that allied forces can operate seamlessly across all domains: land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space.
Since 2017, Chinese spy ships have been regularly spotted near the exercise zones. Australian authorities, anticipating their return this year, have planned enhanced surveillance measures.
Managing local impact and logistical scale
Beyond military considerations, Talisman Sabre presents a significant logistical challenge. Temporary medical facilities, living quarters, command infrastructure, and secure air corridors will be established. Authorities have committed to minimizing disruption for local communities, commercial routes, and the environment. They will safeguard threatened and migratory species, as well as marine mammals, by implementing a robust risk mitigation framework that ensures full compliance with applicable environmental legislation.
With Talisman Sabre 2025, Australia reasserts its role as a security hub in the Indo-Pacific. This unprecedented exercise underscores the growing importance of cooperation between Western democracies and allied Asian powers in the face of global threats. Balancing regional sovereignty, operational preparedness, and strategic signaling, the 2025 edition stands out as a major military and diplomatic showcase on the world stage.
