Australia-Japan Alliance Thrives in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025

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Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, held from July 13 to August 4, showcased a deepening Australia-Japan defence partnership, with Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) conducting advanced missile drills in Australia. This article explores the strengthened military ties, Japan’s live-fire demonstrations, and the strategic importance of this alliance amid regional tensions, while questioning the Labor government’s broader defence priorities.

On July 22, 2025, the JGSDF’s 7th Surface to Surface Missile Regiment fired three Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missiles (SSM) at Beecroft Weapons Range, Jervis Bay, hitting a maritime target 18.6 miles offshore. This marked Japan’s second live-fire exercise in Australia, following a 2023 demonstration, and included new capabilities like the Network Electronic Warfare System. Colonel Ito, leading the JGSDF unit, emphasized the exercise’s dual goals: enhancing technical expertise and fostering cooperation with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “We learned a great deal through collaboration with the Royal Australian Navy and HMAS Albatross units,” Ito said, highlighting the exercise’s role in building trust. Vice Admiral Justin Jones, ADF Chief of Joint Operations, praised the partnership, noting it reflects Japan’s high regard for Australia’s military.

Talisman Sabre 2025, involving 35,000 personnel from 19 nations, is Australia’s largest military exercise, spanning Queensland, New South Wales, and Papua New Guinea. Japan’s participation, with 120 JGSDF members, underscores a growing trilateral framework with the United States, vital for countering China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise’s live-fire drills, amphibious landings, and multi-domain operations signal a unified stance against regional threats, particularly as Chinese surveillance ships have monitored Talisman Sabre since 2017. The opposition, led by Peter Dutton, has urged a stronger defence posture, criticizing Labor’s hesitancy to fully commit to such alliances.

While the Albanese government touts Talisman Sabre as a diplomatic win, critics argue it underfunds core ADF capabilities, leaving Australia reliant on allies like Japan and the US. The Australia-Japan partnership, fortified through exercises like Talisman Sabre, is a cornerstone of regional stability, but its success demands a more robust national defence strategy to match.