Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Chief of Naval Staff, Algeria, Major General Kaid Nour Eddine, during the inauguration of the India-Algeria Joint Commission for Defense Cooperation in New Delhi on May 5, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI
India and Algeria held their inaugural joint commission meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday (May 5, 2026), marking a significant step forward in bilateral defense ties.
According to the Defense Ministry, the talks focused on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as training, joint military exercises, medical cooperation and defense industry involvement.
During the meeting, the two sides signed the Rules of Procedure to oversee the implementation of Indo-Algerian defense cooperation. The framework will guide the future commitments of the joint commission and will simplify cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and Chief of the Algerian Naval Staff Major General Kaid Nour Eddine. The Indian delegation included representatives of the three services (Indian Army, Navy and Air Force), Integrated Defense Staff Headquarters, Ministry of Defense Production, DRDO, Armed Forces Medical Services and Ministry of External Affairs.
MoU momentum
Defense relations between India and Algeria have gained momentum since the signing of a Defense Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2024, with increased high-level engagements on both sides. The current visit of Major General Kaid Nour Eddine is considered a key step in strengthening strategic cooperation.
Before the meeting, the Algerian delegation paid tribute to the fallen Indian soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The delegation is also scheduled to interact with stakeholders of the Indian defense industry during the visit.
Published – 06 May 2026 22:45 IST
