India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave and AFINDEX-2023

March 31, 2023

The India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave was held in Pune with the aim of strengthening defence relations and creating an institutionalised framework for better military-to-military cooperation between India and African nations. The central theme of the conclave was AMRUT (Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity), which emphasizes regional cooperation and integration among the militaries of India and African countries. It was conducted at the sidelines of the AFINDEX-2023.

Joint Military Exercise AFINDEX-2023

The joint military exercise between India and African countries is known as the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX). The focus of the AFINDEX joint exercises is on humanitarian mine action and peacekeeping operations. AFINDEX-2023 saw the participation of 25 nations, including India and 24 African countries. This exercise is a major landmark in defence relations between India and African nations.

The Significance of the India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave

The India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave seeks to boost the synergy between militaries of India and African nations as part of a regional cooperation mechanism. The conclave saw the participation of senior army officers, civilian and defence officials, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and chief of the army staff general Manoj Pande among others. The purpose of the joint training and defence cooperation among the nations is to evolve an institutionalised framework in order to enhance collaboration in the fields of joint military training, peacekeeping operations and Indian defence industries.

India’s Training Programmes for African Nations

India’s training programmes for the Armed Forces of African nations cover areas such as counter-insurgency operations, peacekeeping, maritime security, and specialised training in new domains such as cyber warfare and drone operations. India also trains civilians in areas such as disaster management, humanitarian aid, and medical assistance. The training programmes aim to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices, and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking execution of Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations under the UN mandate.

Equipment Display: Make in India

On the sidelines of the AFINDEX joint exercises, an ‘Equipment Display’ showcased 75 indigenous products from 32 industries manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This display showcased India’s capability to produce world-class defence equipment and technologies.

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