Algiers – On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Lieutenant General Saïd Chanegriha, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the Algerian People’s National Army (ANP), received General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, at the conclusion of his working visit to Algeria leading a significant military delegation, according to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense.
The statement clarified that “within the framework of military cooperation activities, Lieutenant General Saïd Chanegriha welcomed General Upendra Dwivedi on August 28, 2025, at the ANP General Staff headquarters.”
The meeting, attended by the Commander of the Land Forces, heads of departments, and central directors from the ANP General Staff and the Ministry of National Defense, as well as members of the Indian military delegation, reviewed areas of bilateral military cooperation and ways to enhance security coordination on issues of mutual interest. The discussions also addressed global security challenges and exchanged views on current international and regional issues.
In his opening remarks, Lieutenant General Chanegriha welcomed the visiting delegation, praising “the level of bilateral relations between India and Algeria, particularly since the meeting between the President of the Republic and the Indian President during her visit to Algeria in October 2024.”
He stated: “Algerian-Indian relations have gained renewed momentum following the recent official visit to Algeria by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, in October 2024. The bilateral talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune paved the way for new prospects and the adoption of future strategies to elevate bilateral cooperation and activate various joint mechanisms through the operationalization of bilateral committees.”
Chanegriha further affirmed that the visit “had a positive impact, injecting renewed dynamism into military relations between the two countries through high-level official visits.” He added: “This dynamism was also reflected in reciprocal visits between the leadership of both armies, such as the participation of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, in the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of our glorious liberation revolution, as well as my official visit to your friendly country in February of this year.”
For his part, General Dwivedi expressed his delight at visiting Algeria, which “provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives with the leadership of the Land Forces and discuss various security issues at the international and regional levels with the ANP’s high command.” He emphasized “the significant opportunities for both sides to establish beneficial and fruitful military cooperation.” The meeting concluded with an exchange of symbolic gifts.
In addition to the meeting with Lieutenant General Chanegriha, the Indian military delegation, led by General Dwivedi, followed a comprehensive program of visits to various ANP structures and institutions. The visit began at the Land Forces Command headquarters, where they were received by Lieutenant General Mustapha Smaali, Commander of the Land Forces, and held bilateral talks on topics of mutual interest.
The Indian delegation also met with the Head of the Military Education Office of the ANP’s Employment and Preparation Department and the Central Inspector of Military Industries, discussing various topics, particularly in the fields of military industries and training, to “strengthen bilateral military relations between the two countries.”
The delegation visited the Cherchell Military Academy “Late President Houari Boumediene,” where they listened to a presentation by the academy’s commander and inspected its various pedagogical and training facilities. The Command and Staff School was also part of the visit, offering “an opportunity to learn about one of the ANP’s key training institutions and gain insight into the educational programs provided to its cadres.”
Additionally, the Indian military delegation participated in a program of tourist visits to archaeological and cultural sites to highlight Algeria’s rich history and diverse cultural heritage, as outlined in the Ministry of National Defense’s statement.
