India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee holds inaugural meet in New Delhi
Synopsis
India and Kuwait formally activated their Joint Defence Committee for the first time, just months after upgrading ties to a Strategic Partnership. With DRDO, defence industry, and military medicine all on the table, this is New Delhi's most structured defence engagement with the Gulf to date — and a signal of how seriously India is pursuing arms-export diplomacy in the region.
Key Takeaways
The inaugural India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee (JDC) met in New Delhi on 28 August .
The JDC operationalises a defence cooperation MoU signed during PM Modi's Kuwait visit in December 2024 .
Cooperation areas include training, military exercises, military medicine, defence industry, and R&D .
The session was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran .
India-Kuwait diplomatic relations date to 1962 ; ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in December 2024.
The Kuwaiti delegation held industry interactions at DPSUs Bhawan and visited the National War Memorial .
The inaugural session of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee (JDC) convened in New Delhi on Friday, 28 August, with both nations committing to deepen bilateral defence cooperation across a broad spectrum of domains, including training, military exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry collaboration, and Research and Development.
Key Developments
The Ministry of Defence described the meeting as 'an important step towards operationalising the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between India and Kuwait,' which was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024. That visit also saw the bilateral relationship formally upgraded to a Strategic Partnership.
The JDC session was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad on the Indian side and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran, who led a five-member Kuwaiti delegation. India's delegation drew representatives from the three armed services, the Department of Defence Production, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Armed Forces Medical Services, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Ceremonial and Industry Engagements
Before the formal committee session, Brigadier General Alsakran laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, paying homage to India's fallen soldiers. On the first day of the visit, the Kuwaiti delegation toured Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) Bhawan, where discussions were held with Indian defence industry representatives on potential areas of mutual cooperation. A further industry interaction was scheduled for the second day of the visit.
The Strategic Backdrop
India and Kuwait established diplomatic relations in 1962, and ties between the two countries have historically been anchored in trade, cultural affinity, and the presence of a sizeable Indian community in Kuwait. The Ministry of Defence noted that 'geographic proximity, historical trade links, cultural affinities, and the presence of a large Indian community in Kuwait continue to sustain and nurture the longstanding and multifaceted relationship.'
This comes amid India's broader push to diversify its defence partnerships across the Gulf region, as New Delhi seeks to expand arms exports and co-production arrangements with friendly nations. The JDC framework provides a structured channel for translating the December 2024 MoU into operational programmes.
What Comes Next
With the JDC now formally activated, both sides are expected to chart a roadmap for joint military exercises and explore defence industry tie-ups, including potential DRDO technology transfers. The committee's work will be closely watched as a test of how quickly India can convert its expanding Gulf diplomacy into tangible defence-industrial outcomes.
Point of View
But intent has been on display before. The real measure will be whether any co-production or technology-transfer agreement emerges within the JDC's first year, or whether this framework joins the list of well-structured committees that produce communiqués rather than contracts.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee (JDC)?
The JDC is a bilateral defence forum established under the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed between India and Kuwait in December 2024. It is designed to coordinate and advance cooperation in areas such as training, military exercises, military medicine, defence industry, and R&D.
When and where was the inaugural JDC meeting held?
The first meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2025. It was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad from India and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran from Kuwait.
What was agreed at the inaugural JDC meeting?
Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation across training, military exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry collaboration, and Research and Development. Industry interactions between the Kuwaiti delegation and Indian defence firms were also held during the visit.
How does this meeting relate to PM Modi's Kuwait visit?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait in December 2024, during which the defence cooperation MoU was signed and bilateral ties were upgraded to a Strategic Partnership. The JDC meeting is the first concrete step to operationalise the commitments made during that visit.
What is the history of India-Kuwait diplomatic relations?
India and Kuwait established diplomatic relations in 1962. Ties have been sustained by historical trade links, cultural affinity, and a large Indian community in Kuwait. The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in December 2024.
