Brigadier General Staff Mohamed Khamees Mohamed Al-Hassani, Deputy Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Land Forces, on Friday, 26 June called on General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, in New Delhi, holding wide-ranging discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. The meeting underscored the accelerating momentum in India-UAE defence relations, which have grown into a central pillar of the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

What Was Discussed

According to the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), the interaction covered enhanced bilateral military cooperation, the expansion of professional exchanges between the two armies, and the identification of new avenues for collaboration. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional ties, fostering mutual trust, and advancing a shared vision for regional security and stability.

Foundation Built at the Top Level

The meeting builds on high-level diplomatic groundwork laid earlier this year. In January 2025, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid an official visit to India and held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders acknowledged defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Notably, they welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership — a formal framework that would give institutional shape to the growing military-to-military engagement.

COAS Dwivedi's UAE Visit in January

General Dwivedi himself visited the UAE in January 2025 as part of India's sustained outreach to deepen defence ties with friendly nations. During that trip, he called on the senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, received briefings on the structure, roles, and capabilities of the UAE Army, and visited key military establishments. He also interacted with officers and troops — signalling that the partnership is being built at operational levels, not just at the diplomatic table.

Broader Pattern of Engagement

The joint statement from the Modi-Sheikh Mohamed summit had specifically welcomed the momentum generated by reciprocal visits of Service Chiefs and Commanders from both countries' Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the successful conduct of bilateral military exercises. Friday's meeting in New Delhi is the latest link in that chain. This is at least the third high-profile defence interaction between the two sides since the start of 2025, reflecting a deliberate and structured deepening of ties rather than episodic engagement.

What Comes Next

With a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership already signed, observers will watch for the formalisation of that agreement into a binding framework. Expanded joint exercises, technology-sharing discussions, and greater interoperability between the two armies are expected to follow as both nations align on regional security priorities.