New Delhi, 04 January (H.S.): In a significant step towards deepening India’s strategic and defence engagements with friendly nations, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi is set to embark on a four-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka from January 5 to 8, 2026.

The visit underscores India’s sustained commitment to strengthening military-to-military cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and promoting mutual trust with partner countries in the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia.

The visit will commence with the Army Chief’s engagements in the United Arab Emirates on January 5 and 6, 2026. Upon arrival, General Dwivedi will be accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces.

During his stay, he will hold high-level discussions with the senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces.The deliberations are expected to cover a wide range of subjects such as defence partnerships, military training cooperation, and future avenues for collaboration between the two nations’ armies.

As part of his UAE visit, the Chief of the Army Staff will visit key military establishments to gain insights into the UAE Army’s structure, roles, and operational capabilities. He will also interact with officers and troops to deepen professional understanding and foster people-to-people military ties.

A major highlight of his engagements will be a special address at the UAE National Defence College, where General Dwivedi will speak to senior officers on the evolving dynamics of regional security, peacekeeping, and defence cooperation.

Following his engagements in the UAE, General Dwivedi will travel to Sri Lanka for the second leg of his visit from January 7 to 8, 2026. On arrival in Colombo, he will be accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.

During his stay, he will meet with senior military and civil leaders, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, the Deputy Minister of Defence, and the Defence Secretary. These discussions are expected to focus on issues of mutual interest such as training cooperation, capacity building, and regional security collaboration.

During the Sri Lanka visit, General Dwivedi is scheduled to address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with trainees at the Army War College in Buttala. His interactions will highlight India’s sustained contribution towards defence education and professional military exchanges in the region.

A solemn moment of the visit will be the Army Chief’s homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Memorial, where he will pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while serving in Sri Lanka.

General Dwivedi’s visit to the UAE and Sri Lanka is viewed as an affirmation of India’s strategic vision to enhance security cooperation with friendly nations, strengthen regional stability, and promote shared prosperity in the wider Indian Ocean Region.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar