New Delhi, May 6: India and Algeria have agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation in areas such as military training, exercises, medical services, and defense industries. This agreement emerged during the first meeting of the India-Algeria Joint Commission.
The meeting took place on May 5 in New Delhi. Senior military officials from both countries attended this significant gathering aimed at revitalizing defense cooperation. According to the Ministry of Defense, both parties signed ‘Rules of Procedure’ to monitor the implementation of India-Algeria defense cooperation during the meeting.
This framework, developed by mutual consent, will serve as a guide for future Joint Commission meetings and collaborative activities. The meeting was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) from India, and Major General Kaid Nour Eddine, Chief of Staff of the Algerian Navy.
The Indian delegation included officials from all three branches of the armed forces, the Integrated Defense Staff Headquarters, the Department of Defense Production, DRDO, the Armed Forces Medical Service, and the Ministry of External Affairs. A defense memorandum of understanding was signed between India and Algeria in 2024, leading to significant progress in their defense relations. The Ministry of Defense states that high-level visits since this agreement have further strengthened cooperation.
The current visit by the Algerian Navy Chief is considered a significant milestone in bilateral defense relations. Before the meeting, Major General Kaid Nour Eddine paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. During his visit to India, the special delegation from Algeria will also engage with Indian defense industries. This meeting is seen as a crucial step towards further solidifying defense cooperation and introducing new dimensions in the future.
Notably, last year, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi undertook a significant visit to Algeria from August 25 to 28. Defense experts believe that this visit was a vital step in strengthening India-Algeria relations.
The primary objective of General Dwivedi’s visit was to enhance defense and security cooperation between India and Algeria. This included promoting Army-to-Army collaboration, discussing regional and global security challenges, and exploring new opportunities for defense industry cooperation. During his stay in Algeria, General Dwivedi met with senior military leadership.
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