By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth will undertake a four-day official visit to the Czech Republic from November 16 to 19 to strengthen bilateral defence ties, expand military-to-military engagement and explore opportunities for cooperation in defence technology and industry.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, during the visit, General Seth will hold discussions with senior military leadership of the Czech Armed Forces, including Lieutenant General Petr Cepelka, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence, at the General Staff Headquarters (GSHQ) in Prague.
He will also pay homage to fallen soldiers at a wreath-laying ceremony at the GSHQ and meet senior officials of the Czech Ministry of Defence. The discussions are expected to cover areas of mutual interest, including military cooperation, training, modernisation and emerging security challenges.
The Army Chief will visit the Defence University in Brno and the NATO Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Centre of Excellence to gain insights into specialised military training, operational capabilities and the future preparedness of the Czech Armed Forces.
An important component of the visit will be engagement with the Czech defence industry. General Seth is scheduled to interact with representatives of the Inter-governmental Defence Cooperation Agency (AMOS), the Defence and Security Industry Association and leading defence manufacturers to explore avenues for collaboration in defence technology and industrial partnerships.
The visit assumes significance in the context of India’s efforts to diversify and deepen its international defence partnerships, particularly in advanced military technologies, specialised training and defence manufacturing.
It also reflects the shared commitment of India and the Czech Republic to expanding bilateral defence cooperation through regular military exchanges, institutional engagement and greater industrial collaboration.
