The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has sent forces to Exercise Croix du Sud 2025 in New Caledonia as well as Wallis and Futuna. The multinational combined field training exercise will be led by the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia. According to Defence, it is the South Pacific’s largest Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise.
“The ADF’s continued support to French-led Exercise Croix du Sud demonstrates the importance we place on collective action and cooperation in response to disasters and security incidents. The Pacific has a proud record of working together across common security concerns, which will continue long into the future,” Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said.
The Australian contingent consists of approximately 70 personnel, including a C-27J Spartan aircraft and crew, an Australian Civil-Military Centre team, combat engineers, military police, health teams and planning personnel.
“I’m proud to deploy alongside men and women from across the services who each possess a specific skillset honed through experience and high-quality training,” Australian contingent commander, Captain Mark Sirois, RAN, stated.
Exercise Croix du Sud will finish on 4 May 2025.