Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth will undertake an official visit to the Czech Republic from November 16 to 19, 2026, with a focus on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement and exploring opportunities for collaboration in defence technology and industry.
During the visit, General Seth will hold discussions with senior military leaders of the Czech Armed Forces, including Lieutenant General Petr Cepelka, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence, at the General Staff Headquarters (GSHQ) in Prague. The engagements are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest and further strengthen defence ties between the two countries.
The Army Chief will also pay tribute to fallen soldiers during a wreath-laying ceremony at the General Staff Headquarters. In addition, he is scheduled to call on senior officials of the Czech Ministry of Defence, where discussions will focus on military cooperation, training, modernisation and emerging security challenges.
An important component of the visit will be General Seth’s engagement with Czech military training and specialised defence institutions. He will visit the Defence University in Brno to gain insights into the training and professional development framework of the Czech Armed Forces. The visit will also include the NATO Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Centre of Excellence, providing an opportunity to understand specialised training, operational capabilities and approaches towards future readiness.
The Army Chief is also scheduled to interact with representatives of the Inter-Governmental Defence Cooperation Agency (AMOS), the Defence and Security Industry Association and leading defence manufacturers. These engagements will focus on identifying potential areas of cooperation in defence technology and industry, including opportunities for industrial partnerships between India and the Czech Republic.
The visit reflects the shared commitment of India and the Czech Republic to strengthening bilateral relations through sustained military dialogue, professional exchanges and industrial partnerships. The proposed engagements are aimed at expanding cooperation across military training, defence modernisation and emerging technologies.
The visit comes as both countries seek to deepen their defence engagement through institutional interactions and closer cooperation between their armed forces and defence industries. General Seth’s discussions with Czech military leadership and visits to key defence establishments are expected to provide further momentum to these efforts.
Through engagements with senior military officials, defence institutions and industry representatives, the Army Chief’s four-day visit is intended to reinforce existing defence ties and explore new avenues for cooperation between the Indian Army and the Czech defence establishment.
