Upendra Dwivedi
India’s COAS Dwivedi visiting UAE, Sri Lanka: Here's why the trip remains significant for the region?
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi will undertake official visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from January 5 to 8, 2026, as part of India’s ongoing efforts to enhance defence cooperation and military-to-military engagement with friendly nations.
The visit will begin in the UAE (January 5–6), where General Dwivedi will be received with a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces. During his stay, the COAS will meet senior UAE military leadership, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, and receive briefings on the structure, roles, and capabilities of the UAE Army.
He will also visit key military establishments and interact with officers and troops, underscoring the growing defence partnership between India and the UAE. A highlight of the visit will be an address to officers at the UAE National Defence College, reinforcing professional military exchanges and strategic cooperation.
Following the UAE visit, General Dwivedi will proceed to Sri Lanka (January 7–8), where he will be accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army. The COAS will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence, and the Defence Secretary, to discuss areas of mutual interest such as training cooperation, capacity building, and regional security.
During his stay, General Dwivedi will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges. He will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honoring the sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
The visits reaffirm India’s dedication to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, fostering mutual trust, and enhancing interoperability with friendly nations across the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia.
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