General Upendra Dwivedi highlights modern warfare, defence ties during UAE visit

Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) addressed officers of the UAE National Defence College (NDC) during his ongoing official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

In his address, General Dwivedi highlighted the evolving global security landscape and the changing character of modern conflicts, underscoring the growing importance of technology in contemporary warfare.

He emphasised the critical leadership role of senior military officers and stressed the need for collaborative engagements, including strong bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation between India, the UAE and other regional partners, to achieve symbiotic outcomes and advance regional and global peace and security.

Training convergence

As part of the visit, General Dwivedi also interacted with Major General Staff Yousef Maayouf Saeed Al Hallami, Commander, UAE Land Forces. The discussions focused on enhancing positive military engagement, training convergence, and advancing bilateral defence cooperation between India and the UAE.

In another key engagement, General Dwivedi met the Ambassador of India to the UAE, Deepak Mittal. The discussions centred on further strengthening India–UAE bilateral cooperation, with emphasis on military diplomacy, defence engagement, and deepening strategic ties between the two nations.

Following the visit to the UAE, Gen. Dwivedi will visit Sri Lanka from January 7-8. On arrival, the COAS will be accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army. He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.

General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.