Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth will undertake an official visit to the Czech Republic from November 16 to 19, aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and exploring opportunities for collaboration in defence technology and industry, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday, November 15.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

During the visit, General Seth will hold discussions with senior military leaders 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 in Prague. He will also pay tribute to fallen soldiers at a wreath-laying ceremony at the headquarters and call on senior officials of the Czech Ministry of Defence.

Source: BharatShakti

The discussions are expected to cover areas of mutual interest including military cooperation, training, modernisation and emerging security challenges, according to the ministry's statement.

Training institutions and defence industry on the agenda

As part of the programme, 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 future preparedness of the Czech Armed Forces.

Source: India Strategic

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 comes as India works to diversify and deepen its international defence partnerships, particularly in advanced military technologies, specialised training and defence manufacturing, the reports said. No procurement agreement has been announced in connection with the visit.