Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s Official Visit to Nepal
General Upendra Dwivedi, India’s Chief of Army Staff, is set to embark on an official visit to Nepal next week, marking a significant milestone in the evolving military diplomacy between the two nations. This visit underscores the deep-rooted military ties between India and Nepal, fostered 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.
Nepal has continued its close ties with India, with regular exchanges of military training, visits, and defence modernisation. The two nations are critical partners in enhancing mutual military capabilities, particularly through training programs. Over 300 Nepali Army personnel have been trained in India this year alone, in specialized fields such as counterinsurgency, leadership development, and peacekeeping.
The annual Surya Kiran joint military exercise is a key pillar of India-Nepal military cooperation, enhancing interoperability between the two armed forces. This exercise focuses on counterterrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance, with its 18th edition set to take place in Nepal in December 2024. India has also supported Nepal’s military modernisation by supplying various forms of military hardware.
The tradition of conferring honorary ranks on respective Chiefs of Army Staff symbolizes the shared military legacy between India and Nepal. The large population of Indian ex-servicemen in Nepal, over 88,000, serves as a bridge deepening people-to-people connections.
General Dwivedi’s visit will provide an opportunity to further enhance engagements, including discussions on improving disaster response mechanisms and expanding regional security cooperation. As both countries continue to enhance their cooperation in defence, the India-Nepal military partnership will remain crucial in ensuring peace and stability in South Asia.
