India-Kuwait Hold First Joint Defence Committee Meeting in New Delhi, Agree to Deepen Military Cooperation.
New Delhi:
India and Kuwait held the inaugural meeting of their Joint Defence Committee (JDC) in New Delhi on August 28, 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening defence and security cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to further expand bilateral defence cooperation across several key areas, including military training, joint exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry and research and development (R&D).
The first meeting of the JDC is considered an important milestone in implementing the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between India and Kuwait. The agreement was signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Kuwait in December 2024.
India-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Gets New Institutional Framework
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad from the Indian side and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran, who led the five-member Kuwaiti delegation.
The Indian delegation included representatives from the three Armed Forces, the Department of Defence Production, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Armed Forces Medical Services and the Ministry of External Affairs.
The discussions provided an institutional platform for both countries to review existing defence cooperation and identify new areas for collaboration.
The two sides discussed opportunities to enhance military-to-military engagement, strengthen professional exchanges and explore greater cooperation in defence production and technology.
Kuwaiti Delegation Pays Tribute at National War Memorial
Ahead of the JDC meeting, Brigadier General Raed Alsakran visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where he laid a wreath and paid homage to India’s fallen soldiers.
The Kuwaiti delegation also visited DPSU Bhawan in New Delhi on the first day of its visit. During the visit, the delegation held discussions with representatives of the Indian defence industry on potential areas of mutual cooperation.
An additional interaction with India’s defence industry has also been scheduled for the second day of the Kuwaiti delegation’s visit, providing an opportunity to explore possibilities for deeper industrial collaboration.
India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership
India and Kuwait share traditionally warm and friendly relations, supported by longstanding historical, economic and people-to-people ties.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1962. The bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in December 2024 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Kuwait.
The relationship is supported by geographic proximity, historic trade links and strong cultural connections. The presence of a large Indian community in Kuwait has also played an important role in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Defence Cooperation to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
The inaugural JDC meeting is expected to provide further momentum to India-Kuwait defence relations by creating a structured mechanism for regular consultations and cooperation.
With both countries focusing on military training, exercises, defence production, medical cooperation and research and development, the new mechanism could help broaden practical defence engagement and create additional opportunities for collaboration between their armed forces and defence industries.
The meeting reflects the growing depth of the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership and the shared interest of both countries in expanding cooperation across multiple areas of mutual importance.
