Germany has, for the first time, sent troops to Australia to join in joint drills with other nations, underlining its increased focus on the Indo-Pacific.

This comes as the country balances its security and economic interests in the region, with China being its most important trading partner. The move seeks to demonstrate Germany’s reliability and capability in the region, as it looks to strengthen its bilateral military cooperation with Japan and deepen its ties with other nations.

The German forces, numbering up to 240 soldiers, will take part in the Talisman Sabre exercise from July 22 to August 4, with soldiers from 12 other nations, including Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, France and Britain.

The exercise, held bi-annually, is the largest drills between Australia and the U.S. The German troops have orders to return to Australia for the next exercise in 2025. Army Chief Alfons Mais noted that the Indo-Pacific is of extreme importance to Germany and the European Union due to the economic interdependencies, and that the security challenges are much less clear-cut than before the Cold War.

He further stated that the deployment was not meant to antagonize anyone, and that it is important to understand the perspectives of other nations. Germany’s increased focus on the Indo-Pacific is also seen in other military activities such as the 2021 warship voyage into the South China Sea, as well as the air force’s largest peacetime deployment last year in joint exercises in Australia.

Mais plans to visit the German troops in Australia and a Rheinmetall plant assembling Boxer armoured transport vehicles for both armies in mid-July, before travelling on to Japan and Singapore.

Germany looks to Strengthen Indo-Pacific Presence with First Troop Deployment to Australia Germany has stepped up its military presence in the Indo-Pacific with the first deployment of its troops to Australia, as the country seeks to strengthen its ties with other nations in the region while balancing its