General Dwivedi holds defence talks with Algerian senior military leadership

Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, held talks with Algeria’s senior military leadership, focusing on training exchanges for senior officers, joint capability development, and defence-industrial cooperation.

General Dwivedi is on an official visit to Algeria — his first overseas engagement since the successful conclusion of Operation Sindoor. The visit underscores India’s intent to deepen defence ties with the Maghreb-Sahel region of Africa.

According to sources, with Algeria operating largely on similar military equipment, New Delhi is considered well placed to support its modernisation, training, and maintenance needs. Discussions also covered defence-industrial avenues such as anti-drone systems and niche technologies, though no sales agreements were announced. Earlier this month, a defence seminar in Algiers brought together Indian defence firms and Algerian military representatives.

For New Delhi, Algeria represents a key partner in the Maghreb-Sahel-Mediterranean arc – an energy-rich nation with oil, gas, and critical minerals, as well as a capable military and a track record of regional mediation. Sources said that Algeria’s role within the African Union and its pro-South stance align closely with India’s Africa outreach policies.

Despite Algiers’ traditional ties with Russia, China, and Pakistan, the two countries are finding increasing areas of convergence. Algeria’s condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack has further highlighted counter-terrorism as a shared priority, sources added.

General Dwivedi’s visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a long-term defence partnership, strengthening Army-to-Army cooperation and reinforcing shared principles of sovereignty, non-alignment, and South-South cooperation.