Classmates Two Counter Part: Alumni Connect strengthens India-Australia’s defense relations

New Delhi: Shared training experiences between military leaders in the field of defense diplomacy often sow seeds of permanent partnerships. They last longer despite political cycles and strategic changes. When military commanders take training simultaneously in their early or mid-career stages, they not only develop professional capacity, but also develop deep, personal understanding of each other’s countries, cultures and armed forces. This “alumni contact” becomes a unique means of strategic soft power, which creates confidence, facilitates clear dialogue and enables uninterrupted cooperation both in peace and crisis. Australian Army Army Chief Lt Gen Simon Stuart’s journey from 10 to 14 August 2025 presents a lively example of this theory.

Together training of General Upendra Dwivedi and General Stuart

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Lieutenant General Stuart trained together in the United States Army War College in 2015 and established a professional bond which matured as well as their career. This shared educational background not only provides a strong base for mutual belief, but also enables a deep strategic understanding, paving the way for more meaningful cooperation between the two armies. Major military institutions of India such as Military Academy of India (IMA), National Defense College (NDC), Defense Service Staff College (DSSC), and National Defense Academy (NDA) have been welcoming Miraculous countries (FFC) officials for decades. Many of these alumni have reached the highest positions in their armies and have become an ambassador to the professional ethos of India.

Trained officer in India

1. Sri Lanka – 8 senior officials including current and retired heads,
2. Nepal – 9 senior officers.
3. Bangladesh – 6 Senior Officer.
4. Malaysia – 6 Senior Officer.
5. Bhutan – 2 senior officers.
6. Nigeria – 3 senior officials.
7. Australia – 2 senior officials.

How does an alumni work work?

These include Sri Lankan Army Chief, IMA and alumni of the School of Artillery, and Graduates of Sri Lankan CDS, NDC. Chief and senior commanders of countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, France, Tanzania, South Korea, New Zealand, Namibia, Kenya, Fiji and Thailand also share this shared bond with the Indian Army. This former student network works from both sides. Indian authorities have also educated in reputed foreign institutions such as Army War College (America), Royal College of Defense Studies (UK), Ecole de Gujare (France), which has helped them to have a global approach as well as to have a permanent relationship with their peers abroad.

This is not a unilateral exchange. Indian Army officials themselves have been influenced by professional military education abroad – field martial KM Cariappa and SHFJ Manekshaw Imperial Defense College, UK students, while General Upendra Dwivedi had educated in Army War College, USA. Such exchange is equipped with a common and deep understanding to deal with extensive strategic approaches, best operational practices, and global security challenges.

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