New Delhi: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth has begun a three-day official visit to Russia from September 16 to 18, with discussions focused on strengthening India-Russia defence cooperation and military-to-military ties.
The visit includes meetings with senior Russian military and defence officials, visits to key defence institutions and engagements aimed at expanding professional military cooperation, training and defence-related exchanges.
General Dhiraj Seth to Hold Talks with Russian Land Forces Chief
During his visit to Moscow, General Seth will hold discussions with Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces.
The talks will cover issues of mutual interest, including professional military cooperation and training. The engagement is part of continued Army-to-Army interaction between India and Russia.
General Seth will also receive a ceremonial Guard of Honour and pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.
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Defence Industry and Procurement on the Agenda
The COAS is scheduled to visit Russia’s National Defence Control Centre in Moscow and interact with senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Among those he will meet is Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for defence industry and procurement.
The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on contemporary military developments and discuss avenues for strengthening defence cooperation.
The visit comes as India continues to maintain defence engagement with Russia while also diversifying its sources of military equipment. Recent reporting has highlighted ongoing discussions involving equipment, spares, maintenance and wider military cooperation.
COAS to Visit Artillery Academy in St Petersburg
General Seth will also travel to Saint Petersburg during the visit.
There, he will visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy and interact with its leadership and faculty. The engagement will provide an opportunity to discuss professional military education and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
The academy visit adds an educational and training dimension to the wider defence engagement, alongside the discussions planned with Russian military commanders and defence officials.
Focus on Military-to-Military Cooperation
India and Russia have maintained longstanding defence ties, with military-to-military engagement forming an important part of the relationship.
General Seth’s current visit is centred on sustaining this interaction through senior-level discussions, professional exchanges and institutional engagements.
The Ministry of Defence said the visit reflects the importance attached by both countries to sustained military diplomacy and Army-to-Army engagement. It also stated that the interactions are expected to further deepen military cooperation and reinforce the defence relationship between India and Russia.
Why the Russia Visit Matters
For the Indian Army, engagement with Russian defence institutions covers areas extending beyond equipment and procurement. Training, professional military cooperation, maintenance and exchanges between military institutions also form part of the broader relationship.
Recent reporting notes that Russian-origin equipment continues to account for a substantial part of India’s existing military inventory, even as New Delhi has expanded defence sourcing from countries including the United States, France and Israel.
Against this background, high-level military engagement provides a channel for discussing operational requirements, technical cooperation and future areas of collaboration.
General Dhiraj Seth’s September 16–18 visit therefore brings together military leadership, defence-industry engagement and professional military education as India and Russia continue their longstanding defence dialogue.
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