General Upendra Dwivedi Proposes 'IKIGAI' Framework for Indo-Pacific Cooperation at Japan Land Forces Summit
General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of the Army Staff, delivered a virtual address at the 3rd Land Forces Summit organized by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) on Thursday. During his speech, he introduced India's vision for enhanced cooperation in land power across the Indo-Pacific under the proposed 'IKIGAI' Framework.
This summit brought together Army Chiefs and senior military leaders from notable Indo-Pacific countries such as Japan, Australia, the United States, the Philippines, and Malaysia, highlighting an increased focus on collaborative military efforts in response to regional security challenges.
General Dwivedi elaborated on the IKIGAI Framework, describing it as a detailed plan for boosting collaboration among Indo-Pacific land forces. The framework is designed to improve coordination, readiness, trust, and shared capabilities to tackle both conventional and unconventional security issues.
The IKIGAI Framework is structured around six main pillars:
| Interoperability and Information Sharing, to ensure seamless coordination and intelligence exchange |
| Knowledge and Professional Military Education, focused on building common understanding and leadership |
| International Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) |
| Generative Technological Partnerships, promoting innovation and capability development |
| Assurance for Security Partnerships, strengthening mutual confidence |
| Integrated Logistics and Sustainment, enabling operational endurance and effectiveness |
The Army Chief also pointed out three crucial pillars necessary for effective multilateral engagement: Shared Diagnosis, Shared Principles, and Shared Actions. He stressed that these elements are essential for translating cooperative efforts into practical results.
General Dwivedi emphasized that the IKIGAI Framework signifies a collective commitment by Indo-Pacific nations to leverage their combined land power to support regional peace, stability, and economic prosperity, while respecting sovereignty and international law.
The Land Forces Summit functions as an important multilateral venue to enhance Army-to-Army defense collaboration through high-level leadership interactions and structured discussions, thereby strengthening collective strategies for regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
