India and Kuwait have agreed to significantly deepen defence cooperation, holding the inaugural meeting of their Joint Defence Committee (JDC) in New Delhi on Friday — just a day after Kuwait signed a major defence pact with Pakistan. The timing underscores Kuwait’s effort to balance regional partnerships while expanding military ties with India.
At the JDC meeting, both sides committed to strengthening collaboration across training, joint military exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry, and research & development. The talks mark an important step toward implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in 2021.
The Indian delegation was led by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, and included representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defence Production, DRDO, Armed Forces Medical Services, and the Ministry of External Affairs. Kuwait’s five‑member delegation was headed by Brigadier General Raed Alsakran.
The dialogue comes immediately after Kuwait inked the Protocol Agreement‑2026 with Pakistan, signed in Rawalpindi between Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al‑Sabah, accompanied by Kuwait’s Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Khalid Al‑Shriaan. That agreement focused on expanding bilateral defence relations and security cooperation.
India’s meeting with Kuwait signals New Delhi’s intent to maintain strong defence engagement with Gulf partners, especially as regional security dynamics evolve. The JDC is expected to serve as a structured mechanism for regular dialogue and long‑term cooperation.