India–Sri Lanka Defence Ties Set for New Momentum as Indian Army Chief Heads to Colombo

India’s Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Upendra Dwivedi (COAS), will travel to Sri Lanka from December 1–2, a visit expected to redefine the trajectory of bilateral military cooperation at a critical moment for regional security in the Indian Ocean. The trip is seen within defence circles as the culmination of a year-long series of high-level engagements between the two militaries.

A Visit That Caps a Year of Strategic Interaction

The timing of this visit carries strategic weight. In 2025, India and Sri Lanka exchanged a series of top-level military delegations: Sri Lanka’s Army Commander completed an official tour of India earlier in the year, followed by the Indian Navy Chief’s visit to Colombo in September.

With the Army Chief now preparing to travel to Sri Lanka, both sides are closing the year with a complete cycle of cross-service engagement. Analysts argue that this continuity demonstrates an effort to preserve momentum, build trust and ensure that both militaries remain aligned on shared security priorities.

A Relationship Strengthened Through Steady Professional Contact

Defence cooperation between the two neighbours has deepened over the past decade through a consistent pattern of interactions, joint training and doctrinal dialogue. Previous engagements—such as General MM Naravane’s 2021 visit to Sri Lanka, during which he witnessed Mitra Shakti, and multiple reciprocal trips by Sri Lankan Army Chiefs to India —have contributed to a thick layer of institutional familiarity.

This year alone, Sri Lankan commanders revisited key Indian military institutions, including the Indian Military Academy, highlighting the role of professional development in shaping the partnership. These exchanges reflect a relationship that goes beyond ceremonial visits and leans heavily on practical collaboration.

Advancing India’s “Neighbourhood First” Security Vision

The COAS’s upcoming discussions in Colombo are expected to focus on capability enhancement, operational cooperation, and shared security risks in the Indian Ocean Region. The visit reinforces India’s “Neighbourhood First” approach, under which New Delhi prioritises stability, interoperability and trusted mechanisms of engagement with its closest partners.

Sri Lanka continues to view India as a primary source of defence training, technology assistance and crisis support. Meanwhile, India sees Sri Lanka as a central pillar in ensuring a secure and predictable maritime environment in the northern Indian Ocean.

Symbolism Meets Strategy

While operational cooperation will dominate the agenda, the visit will also include symbolic moments. Paying respects at memorials shared by both nations’ armed forces is expected to be one of the highlights, reaffirming a longstanding military relationship built on historical links and shared sacrifices.

These gestures, coupled with substantive conversations about defence modernisation and emerging threats, frame the visit as both an acknowledgement of the past and a roadmap for future collaboration.

Convergence Beyond Defence

Both countries have also found common ground on issues extending into the global geopolitical arena. Colombo has backed New Delhi’s longstanding call for reforms at the United Nations Security Council, while India has supported Sri Lanka’s efforts to expand its diplomatic reach through groupings such as BRICS. These complementary positions indicate a broader alignment in worldviews that now underpins bilateral defence cooperation.

A Partnership Poised for Expansion

As 2025 draws to a close, the Indian Army Chief’s visit underscores a partnership that is steadily transitioning from episodic engagements to structured, forward-looking collaboration. With both countries confronting new strategic pressures in the Indo-Pacific, the visit is likely to set the tone for the next phase of defence cooperation, one that emphasises preparedness, shared responsibility and long-term institutional strengthening.

Team BharatShakti