Indian Army Chief Holds Talks With UAE Counterpart, Pushes Deeper Military Cooperation Amid Gulf Tensions
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi engages with senior military leadership in the UAE as both sides move to expand defence cooperation, training convergence and strategic engagement. Image courtesy: X.com/@adgpi
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday (January 5, 2026) held wide-ranging discussions with the Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Land Forces, Major General Yousef Maayouf Saeed Al Hallami, with a strong focus on expanding bilateral military cooperation, training convergence, and strategic engagement between the two countries.
Why is the Indian General’s UAE visit significant?
General Dwivedi is on a two-day official visit to the UAE from January 5 to 6, marking the first leg of his two-nation tour, after which he will travel to Sri Lanka.
The visit assumes added strategic significance as it comes amid fast-paced geopolitical developments in the Gulf region, including escalating tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over the situation in Yemen.
What did India and the UAE army chiefs discuss?
According to the Indian Army, the talks centred on advancing defence cooperation through enhanced military-to-military engagement, joint training initiatives, and greater interoperability.
The discussions reflect the growing importance of military diplomacy in strengthening India’s strategic partnerships in West Asia, a region vital to India’s energy security, trade, and expatriate population.
What other engagements form part of the Indian Army chief’s visit?
During his visit, General Dwivedi is also scheduled to tour key military establishments, including the UAE National Defence College, and interact with officers and troops, underscoring the emphasis on professional exchanges and institutional linkages.
India-UAE military ties have gathered significant momentum since December 2020, when then-Army Chief General M. M. Naravane became the first Indian Army chief to visit the Gulf nation. That visit laid the foundation for deeper defence engagement.
Gen Dwivedi’s trip follows closely on the heels of the recent visit to India by the UAE Presidential Guard Commander, Major General Ali Saif Humaid Alkaabi, highlighting the sustained high-level exchanges driving the expanding India-UAE defence partnership.
