**Executive Summary**
General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), successfully concluded his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from 05 to 08 January 2026. The visit reinforced India's commitment to deepening defence cooperation, enhancing military engagement, and strengthening strategic partnerships with friendly nations in West Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE):**
* Held discussions with senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces from 05 to 06 January 2026.
* Focused on strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and expanding joint training and military exchanges.
* Received briefings on the organizational structure, roles, and operational capabilities of the UAE Land Forces.
* Addressed officers at the UAE National Defence College, emphasizing strategic dialogue and leadership development.
* Discussed defence diplomacy and cooperation with the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Deepak Mittal.
* **Visit to Sri Lanka:**
* Held discussions with senior military and civil leadership from 07 to 08 January 2026.
* Focused on training cooperation, capacity building, defence education, and regional security dynamics.
* Addressed officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interacted with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala.
* Laid the foundation stone of a Sports Complex and handed over Ambulance Vans at the Army War College.
* Handed over 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators to the Sri Lanka Army.
* Paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial.
**Impact Analysis**
**UAE Armed Forces**
*Impact:*
Enhanced defence cooperation, interoperability, and opportunities for joint training and professional military exchanges. Increased understanding of organizational structures, roles, and capabilities.
*Action Required:*
Participate in expanded joint training and professional military exchanges, implement strategies to enhance interoperability.
**Sri Lanka Army**
*Impact:*
Strengthened training cooperation and capacity building. Improved operational capability and training infrastructure through the provision of vehicles, simulators, and infrastructure projects.
*Action Required:*
Utilize provided vehicles and simulators, participate in joint training initiatives, and foster strengthened relationships with the Indian Army.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: Indian government ministry responsible for defence.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): The head of the Indian Army; General Upendra Dwivedi in this context.
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Country visited by the COAS to strengthen defense cooperation.
Sri Lanka: Country visited by the COAS to strengthen defense cooperation.
Ministry of Defence
CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF, GENERAL
UPENDRA DWIVEDI CONCLUDES VISIT TO UAE
AND SRI LANKA, STRENGTHENING DEFENCE
COOPERATION
प्रव तथ: 09 JAN 2026 4:41PM by PIB Delhi
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, has successfully concluded his official
visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from 05 to 08 January 2026, reinforcing India’s
commitment to deepening defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and
strengthening strategic partnerships with friendly nations in West Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
Visit to the United Arab Emirates
During his visit to the UAE from 05 to 06 January 2026, the COAS held wide-ranging discussions with
senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, focusing
on strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and expanding avenues for joint training
and professional military exchanges.
General Dwivedi 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 provided an opportunity to exchange best practices and explore
collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
The COAS 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 also included interactions with the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Deepak Mittal, during
which issues pertaining to defence diplomacy and cooperation were discussed.
Visit to Sri Lanka
From 07 to 08 January 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, Deputy Minister of
Defence and the Defence Secretary, focusing on training cooperation, capacity building, defence education
and regional security dynamics.
Reflecting India’s enduring commitment to defence capacity building, the COAS addressed officers at the
Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interacted with officers and trainees at the
Army War College, Buttala. During his visit to the Army War College, General Dwivedi laid the
foundation stone of a Sports Complex and formally handed over Ambulance Vans. In addition, he handed
over 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators to the Sri Lanka Army, further strengthening
operational capability and training infrastructure.The COAS paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers
and reaffirming the shared history and deep people-to-people bonds 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 fostering peace, stability and cooperative
security in the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia, while deepening longstanding defence partnerships
with friendly nations._____________________________________________________________
NA/RS
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