Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi concludes official visits to UAE and Sri Lanka

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi concluded his official visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from January 05 to 08, 2026, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and strengthening strategic partnerships in West Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that 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 interactions focused on strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and expanding opportunities 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, facilitating the exchange of best practices and exploring avenues of mutual interest.

General Dwivedi also addressed officers at the UAE National Defence College, emphasising the importance of strategic dialogue, leadership development and shared perspectives on regional and global security challenges. He additionally met Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Deepak Mittal, to discuss aspects of defence diplomacy and bilateral cooperation, the MoD said.

From January 7 to 8, Gen. Dwivedi visited Sri Lanka, where he engaged with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary. Discussions centred on training cooperation, capacity building, defence education and regional security dynamics.

Reflecting India’s commitment to defence capacity building, General 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 at the Army War College and formally handed over ambulance vans, 20 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles and simulators to the Sri Lanka Army, strengthening operational capability and training infrastructure.

The COAS also paid homage at the IPKF War Memorial and met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.

The visits significantly advanced defence cooperation with both nations, reinforced mutual trust and underscored India’s role as a reliable and trusted defence partner committed to regional peace and stability.