INDIAN ARMY CHIEF TO VISIT ALGERIA: STRENGTHENING INDIA–ALGERIA DEFENCE TIES
National Defence Bureau,
New Delhi, 22 August 2025
General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Algeria in the coming week. This will be his first overseas visit after the triumph in Operation Sindoor, underscoring the Army’s growing role in strengthening India’s strategic engagements abroad. The visit also follows the recent tours of the Hon’ble President of India and the Chief of Defence Staff to Algiers, which laid the foundation for deeper cooperation.
At the core of the visit lies defence cooperation. The Indian Army Chief is expected to discuss strengthening Army-to-Army ties, expanding training exchanges, and enhancing capability development initiatives. With Algeria operating predominantly similar equipment, India is well positioned to share operational expertise, provide maintenance and training support, and promote collaboration in defence technologies. The two sides are also expected to explore opportunities for defence industrial partnership, particularly in areas of modernisation, logistics, and equipment support.
General Dwivedi will also share India’s strategic vision of zero tolerance for terrorism and exchange perspectives on regional and global security challenges. These deliberations are expected to contribute to building trust, interoperability, and practical cooperation between the two militaries.
India views Algeria as a natural partner in its outreach to Africa and the Mediterranean, given its pivotal role as a gateway to the Maghreb–Sahel–Mediterranean region. Algeria’s position as a security anchor for the Sahel, an energy powerhouse with oil, gas, and rare earth reserves, and its robust and modernised military make it a vital partner in advancing peace and stability in the wider region.
Algeria, as a regional leader in the Maghreb–Sahel with strong positions in the African Union and the Non-Aligned tradition. India’s outreach aims to deepen trust, expand defence and training cooperation, and diversify Algeria’s partnerships in line with mutual interests.
General Dwivedi’s forthcoming visit is thus expected to inject fresh momentum into India–Algeria relations, reinforcing shared values of sovereignty, non-alignment, and South–South cooperation, while anchoring long-term defence and security collaboration between the two armies.
General Anil Chauhan, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) visited Algeria from 31 October to 3 November 2024. During this visit, he met with General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army of Algeria.
Both military leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral defence cooperation. General Chauhan also took part as a guest of honour in Algeria’s military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Algerian Revolution.
He visited the Higher War College and addressed senior officers, emphasizing shared values and strategic cooperation under India’s “Make in India” and “Make for the World” initiatives. Now Army Chief Gen Updendra Dwivedi’s Algeria visit will strengthen defence ties between both the countries.
Comments