Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to visit Nepal to further bolster bilateral military ties

New Delhi: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi will embark on an official visit to Nepal next week, marking another significant chapter in the evolving military diplomacy between the two nations.

This visit underscores the deep-rooted military ties between India and Nepal, which have flourished over a century of shared history, strategic interests, and cooperation on various security and defence matters.

India and Nepal have always shared a special relationship, reinforced by cultural, historical, and geographical factors. This bond has evolved into a robust military partnership that plays a key role in enhancing regional security.

General Dwivedi’s visit is expected to further strengthen these ties, paving the way for continued collaboration on multiple fronts, including joint military exercises, training programs, and strategic discussions on regional and global security concerns.

Nepal has continued its close ties with India, with regular exchanges of military training, visits, and defence modernisation. India & Nepal are critical partners in enhancing mutual military capabilities, particularly through training programs.

General Dwivedi’s visit is expected to focus on the ongoing defence modernisation in both militaries, through various initiatives. Both countries offer courses to military personnel in reputed military institutions.

This collaboration has seen over 300 Nepali Army personnel trained in India this year alone, in specialised fields such as counterinsurgency, leadership development, and peacekeeping. Similarly, India Army personnel also undergo courses in Nepal.

A key pillar of India-Nepal military cooperation is the annual Surya Kiran joint military exercise, which enhances interoperability between the two armed forces. This exercise, which focuses on counterterrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance, will see its 18th edition in December 2024 in Nepal.

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