Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Engages in Bilateral Talks with 11 Nations at Exercise PRAGATI 2026

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, engaged in a series of crucial bilateral meetings with vice chiefs and senior military delegation leaders from multiple friendly nations during Exercise PRAGATI 2026. These discussions underscored India's dedication to enhancing regional defense collaboration, military diplomacy, and shared security partnerships within the Indian Ocean Region.

The bilateral meetings involved senior military figures and delegation leaders from countries including Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. These interactions provided a platform for India and its partner nations to discuss common security challenges, deepen strategic understanding, and explore new opportunities for defense collaboration.

Exercise PRAGATI 2026, officially named Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, marks the inaugural edition of the multilateral military exercise hosted by the Indian Army at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya. The event gathered over 400 troops from India and allied nations such as Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos.

The exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and mutual trust among the participating armies. It involved training in counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrains, followed by a 72-hour validation exercise that assessed the combined readiness and tactical synergy of the forces involved.

During the exercise, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth’s interactions with senior military leaders highlighted India’s emerging role as a dependable security partner in the region. The discussions centered on bolstering military-to-military ties, enhancing interoperability, sharing best practices, and identifying future areas for collaboration in training, capacity building, and regional security.

These meetings also held broader strategic importance as they reiterated India’s commitment to peace, stability, and development in the Indian Ocean Region. Given that many nations involved are significant maritime and regional partners, Exercise PRAGATI 2026 functioned not only as a military training exercise but also as a venue for high-level defense diplomacy.

During the exercise, the Indian Army, in partnership with FICCI and the Army Design Bureau, also displayed indigenous defense equipment and specialized technologies. This exhibition showcased India's advancing defense manufacturing capabilities, offering participating nations a glimpse of the next-generation equipment and technologies being developed by the Indian defense sector.

The engagements embodied the spirit of partnership, trust, and a shared mission among regional armies. By bringing together military leaders and troops from various nations, Exercise PRAGATI 2026 has strengthened India's defense outreach and reaffirmed its role as a reliable partner committed to collaborative security and regional cooperation.

The inaugural edition of Exercise PRAGATI 2026 has laid a robust foundation for future iterations of the exercise. It has also underscored India's vision of collaborating closely with like-minded nations to cultivate a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region through cooperation, interoperability, and mutual respect.