Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi virtually addressed the 3rd Land Forces Summit hosted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), outlining a structured framework to strengthen land power cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.
The summit was attended by Chiefs of Armies and senior military leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the United States (US), and focused on advancing multilateral Army-to-Army cooperation.
What did General Upendra Dwivedi propose at the summit?
During his address, General Upendra Dwivedi proposed the IKIGAI Framework as a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing Indo-Pacific land forces cooperation. The framework is designed to promote a shared and structured approach to multilateral military collaboration among participating nations.
The IKIGAI Framework comprises six key elements as follows.
- Interoperability and Information Sharing
- Knowledge and Professional Military Education
- International Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
- Generative Technological Partnerships
- Assurance for Security Partnerships
- Integrated Logistics and Sustainment
According to the Army Chief, the framework reflects a common purpose among Indo-Pacific nations to harness collective land power in support of regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
What principles underpin the IKIGAI Framework?
General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted three key pillars of convergence underpinning effective regional cooperation: Shared Diagnosis, Shared Principles, and Shared Actions.
He said these pillars underpin effective cooperation among Indo-Pacific land forces.
Why is the Land Forces Summit significant?
The Land Forces Summit serves as a multilateral platform aimed at strengthening Army-to-Army defence cooperation through senior leadership engagement and structured Land Forces Dialogue.
The forum seeks to foster deeper understanding, coordination, and collaboration among participating nations’ land forces, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
The address outlined a structured approach to multilateral land forces cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.