What happened?
On August 25, 2025 the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi commenced his official visit to Algeria, aimed at strengthening army-to-army cooperation and capability development. General Dwivedi began his visit with a welcome dinner hosted by Ambassador Dr Swati Vijay Kulkarni, attended by Algerian dignitaries, Ambassadors, Defence Attachés, heads of chambers of commerce, think tanks, and academia. The Embassy noted that the visit builds on recent high-level exchanges between India and Algeria, reflecting the spirit of South-South cooperation. General Dwivedi will hold high-level meetings with Algeria’s senior leadership, including General Said Chanegriha, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence and Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, and Lieutenant General Mostefa Smaali, Commander of Land Forces. The visit follows the recent participation of Indian defence industries in a Defence Seminar in Algiers (July 30–August 1), where they showcased capabilities to foster industrial and technological collaboration.
Why it matters to India
The visit underscores India’s intent to deepen defence and security ties with Algeria, a strategically important partner in North Africa. Algeria offers a gateway to Africa and the Mediterranean, making enhanced defence relations crucial for India’s outreach in the region. By aligning defence industry cooperation with military exchanges, New Delhi is seeking to promote Make in India defence exports while bolstering regional stability.
General Dwivedi’s visit is expected to add new momentum to India-Algeria relations, consolidating their historic ties and advancing shared security interests.