Indian Army and Royal Saudi Land Forces Hold Inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks in New Delhi

In a landmark development in India–Saudi Arabia defence relations, the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) held their inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) in New Delhi from 23 to 24 April 2025. The discussions were a key step in furthering strategic military cooperation between the two nations.

The primary focus of the talks was the formulation and review of the Annual Defence Cooperation Plan, which lays the foundation for collaborative military engagements in the year ahead.

Among the major highlights of the discussions were:

• Planning and expansion of Joint Exercise Sada Tanseeq, a bilateral exercise aimed at fostering tactical synergy and operational familiarity.
• Strengthening cooperation in military training and education, enabling personnel from both nations to benefit from shared knowledge and experience.
• Exchange of domain experts in various fields of defence, facilitating knowledge-sharing and professional development.
• Collaboration in operational logistics, ensuring smoother support structures during joint operations or humanitarian missions.
• Integration of advanced capabilities in battlefield management systems and niche defence technologies, with a focus on interoperability and modernisation.

Both sides expressed strong commitment to deepening defence engagement through regular dialogue and collaborative initiatives. The talks underscored the evolving strategic partnership between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflecting shared interests in regional security, military modernisation and defence capability enhancement.

This milestone meeting sets a positive tone for continued dialogue, mutual trust and long-term strategic cooperation between the armed forces of both nations.