New Delhi, Jan 4: Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi will embarked on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka from January 5 to 8, 2026, as part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen defence cooperation and military-to-military engagement with friendly nations.
General Dwivedi’s visit begins in the UAE from January 5 to 6, where he will be accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces.
During his stay, the Army Chief will call on senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, and receive briefings on the structure, roles, and operational capabilities of the UAE Army.
He is also scheduled to visit key military establishments and interact with officers and troops, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between India and the UAE.
As part of his engagements, General Dwivedi will visit the UAE National Defence College, where he will address officers undergoing professional military education.
From January 7 to 8, the Chief of the Army Staff will be in Sri Lanka, where he will receive a Guard of Honour from the Sri Lanka Army.
He will hold meetings with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, the Deputy Minister of Defence, and the Defence Secretary.
Discussions are expected to focus on areas of mutual interest such as training cooperation, capacity building, and regional security.
During the Sri Lanka leg of his visit, General Dwivedi will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College in Buttala, underlining India’s commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Colombo.
He will also pay homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Memorial in honour of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives.