Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has embarked on a four-day visit to Japan aimed at bolstering defence cooperation between the two nations.
The visit, which began on Monday and runs until October 17, spotlights India's growing strategic partnership with Japan in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence described the visit as a "significant step in strengthening defence cooperation between India and Japan."
General Dwivedi's visit includes high-level discussions with senior Japanese military officials, visits to key defence institutions, and symbolic gestures underscoring the deep historical ties between the two countries.
On Monday, General Dwivedi met with India's Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo to discuss India-Japan relations. His engagements will intensify on Tuesday with key meetings at Japan's Ministry of Defence in Ichigaya, where he will interact with Japan's top military officials.
The Indian Army Chief will hold meetings with General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Joint Self-Defence Forces; General Morishita Yasunori, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF); and Ishikawa Takeshi, Commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistic Agency (ATLA).
The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing military cooperation and exploring new avenues of collaboration.
A statement from the defence ministry highlighted that "the visit marks a significant step towards exploring new avenues of collaboration and fostering stronger military ties between India and Japan."
As part of his itinerary, General Dwivedi will be honoured with a Guard of Honour by the JGSDF and will visit the National Institute of Defence Studies.
On Wednesday, the Indian Army chief, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, will visit the Fuji School, where he will meet Lieutenant General Kodama Yasuyuki, Commanding General of the Fuji School. During this visit, he will receive briefings on Japanese military capabilities and witness an equipment and facility display.
In a symbolic gesture marking the culmination of his visit, General Dwivedi will travel to Hiroshima on October 17, where he will lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Park and pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the park. This visit highlights the shared values of peace and non-violence between India and Japan.
The Army chief’s visit is seen as a key step in further strengthening India-Japan defence ties amidst growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
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