India-UAE
India strengthens military ties as COAS Dwivedi wraps up key UAE–Sri Lanka visit
Indian Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi has concluded his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 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.
Visit to the United Arab Emirates
During his visit to the UAE from January 5 to 6, General 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 defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and expanding avenues for joint training and professional military exchanges.
The COAS received detailed briefings on the organisational structure, roles and operational capabilities of the UAE Land Forces and visited key military establishments, where he interacted with officers and troops. These engagements enabled an exchange of best practices and exploration of collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
General 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.
The visit included interactions with India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Deepak Mittal, during which issues related to defence diplomacy and bilateral cooperation were discussed.
Visit to Sri Lanka
From January 7 to 8, 2026, the COAS visited 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 focused on training cooperation, capacity building, defence education and regional security dynamics.
Reflecting India’s enduring commitment to defence capacity building, General Dwivedi addressed officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interacted with officers and trainees at the Army War College in Buttala.
During his visit to the Army War College, the COAS laid the foundation stone of a Sports Complex and formally handed over ambulance vans. He also handed over 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators to the Sri Lanka Army, further enhancing its operational capability and training infrastructure.
General Dwivedi paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers and reaffirming the shared history and deep people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka. He also interacted with the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Shri Santosh Jha.
Outcomes and takeaways
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. It reinforced mutual trust, strengthened interoperability and underscored India’s role as a reliable and trusted defence partner.
The successful engagements reaffirm India’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and cooperative security in the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia, while further deepening longstanding defence partnerships with friendly nations.
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