CoAS Upendra Dwivedi concludes UAE and Sri Lanka visit, strengthens defence cooperation
The visit significantly advanced defence and military-to-military cooperation with both the UAE and Sri Lanka through enhanced strategic dialogue, expanded professional military education exchanges and tangible capacity-building initiatives.
New Delhi: Chief of the Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi has concluded an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka from January 5 to 8, reinforcing India’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and strengthening strategic partnerships in West Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
Engagements in the UAE
During his visit to the UAE from January 5 to 6, Dwivedi held wide-ranging discussions with senior leadership of the UAE armed forces, including the commander of the UAE land forces. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and expanding avenues for joint training and professional military exchanges.
The army chief received detailed briefings on the organisational structure, roles and operational capabilities of the UAE land forces and visited key military establishments, interacting with officers and troops. These engagements provided an opportunity to exchange best practices and explore collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Dwivedi also addressed officers at the UAE National Defence College, underscoring the importance of strategic dialogue, leadership development and shared perspectives on regional and global security challenges. He additionally met India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, to discuss defence diplomacy and cooperation.
Visit to Sri Lanka
From January 7 to 8, the army chief was in Sri Lanka, where he held substantive discussions with senior military and civil leadership, including the commander of the Sri Lanka army, the deputy minister of defence and the defence secretary. The discussions covered training cooperation, capacity building, defence education and regional security dynamics.
Reflecting India’s focus on defence capacity building, Dwivedi addressed officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College and interacted with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala. During the visit, he laid the foundation stone for a sports complex and formally handed over ambulance vans to the Sri Lanka army.
He also handed over 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators, aimed at enhancing operational capability and strengthening training infrastructure of the Sri Lanka army.
Dwivedi paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the sacrifice of Indian soldiers and reaffirming the shared history and people-to-people ties between the two countries. He later met India’s high commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
Strategic outcomes
The visit significantly advanced defence and military-to-military cooperation with both the UAE and Sri Lanka through enhanced strategic dialogue, expanded professional military education exchanges and tangible capacity-building initiatives, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement, adding that it reinforced mutual trust, strengthened interoperability and underscored India’s role as a reliable defence partner.
The engagements reaffirm India’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and cooperative security in the Indian Ocean region and West Asia, while deepening long-standing defence partnerships with friendly nations.
