COAS General Dhiraj Seth Begins Russia Visit to Deepen India-Russia Defence and Military Cooperation

Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth has begun a three-day official visit to Russia from September 16 to 18, with military cooperation, professional training and broader defence engagement forming the centre of discussions between the two countries.

The visit comes as India and Russia continue to maintain a longstanding defence relationship extending across military equipment, training, technological cooperation and regular engagement between their armed forces. General Seth’s discussions in Moscow and Saint Petersburg will focus particularly on strengthening Army-to-Army contacts and exploring avenues for deeper professional military cooperation.

Talks With Russian Land Forces Leadership

During his visit to Moscow, General Seth will hold discussions with Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces. According to the Ministry of Defence, the talks will cover issues of mutual interest, including professional military cooperation and training.

The meeting provides the leadership of the two armies with an opportunity to exchange views on contemporary military developments and areas where institutional cooperation can be strengthened. Regular interaction between senior commanders also supports exchanges in training, military education and operational experience while maintaining direct communication between the two land forces.

General Seth will also receive a ceremonial Guard of Honour during the visit. He is scheduled to pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, one of Russia’s principal military memorials.

Defence Industry and Procurement Engagement

An important component of the visit will be General Seth’s engagement with senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Army Chief will visit the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, which serves as a key command and coordination facility within Russia’s defence establishment.

He will also interact with Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for defence industry and procurement. The meeting is significant because defence-industrial cooperation has historically formed a major part of the India-Russia strategic relationship, alongside direct military engagement.

The Ministry of Defence said the discussions will allow both sides to exchange perspectives on contemporary military developments and examine opportunities for enhancing defence cooperation. General Seth’s engagement with an official responsible for defence industry and procurement also gives the visit an important capability and industrial dimension beyond conventional military diplomacy.

Visit to Russia’s Artillery Academy

General Seth will subsequently travel to Saint Petersburg, where he is scheduled to visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy. He will interact with the academy’s leadership and faculty during the visit.

The institution is associated with advanced artillery education and professional military training, making the visit particularly relevant to Army-level cooperation. Interaction between military educational establishments can complement exercises and operational exchanges by creating channels for sharing professional knowledge, training practices and developments in modern land warfare.

Sustaining India-Russia Army-to-Army Cooperation

India and Russia have maintained extensive military ties for decades, while the relationship has gradually expanded from the traditional supply of defence equipment towards training, maintenance, industrial cooperation and military-to-military engagement. Senior-level visits remain an important mechanism for keeping these institutional relationships active as both armed forces adapt to rapidly changing technologies and battlefield requirements.

General Seth’s visit therefore goes beyond ceremonial military diplomacy. His engagements with the Russian Land Forces leadership, defence ministry officials and military educational institutions collectively cover operational cooperation, training and defence-industrial interaction.

The Ministry of Defence said the visit reflects the importance both countries attach to sustained military diplomacy and Army-to-Army engagement. The discussions in Moscow and Saint Petersburg are expected to further strengthen military cooperation while reinforcing the wider India-Russia defence relationship.