General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Indian Army Staff, held a pivotal meeting on September 10, 2025, with Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo, Commander of BSO-1 in the Myanmar Army, aimed at advancing bilateral defence cooperation and deepening military-to-military relations between India and Myanmar.

The high-level dialogue, held in New Delhi, marked a significant moment in ongoing strategic engagement between the two neighbouring countries, reflecting their joint commitment to enhancing regional stability amid a rapidly evolving geostrategic environment in South and Southeast Asia.

During the meeting, both leaders focused on a comprehensive review of current defence partnership initiatives, with emphasis on expanding joint military training, counter-insurgency operations, and cross-border security coordination.

The agenda included assessment of the prevailing security landscape along the India-Myanmar border, which faces continuous challenges from transnational threats, cross-border movements of insurgent groups, and illicit trafficking.

The two commanders discussed modalities for improving interoperability between their respective armed forces through regular joint exercises, knowledge exchange, and coordinated responses to shared security concerns.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional peace and stability, agreeing to pursue collaborative measures such as enhanced intelligence-sharing, operational training modules, officer exchanges, and capacity-building programs tailored to counter non-traditional security threats.

The discussions also touched upon the role of military diplomacy in supporting broader bilateral relations, and the importance of maintaining transparent and open channels of communication amid shifting regional dynamics and the growing strategic footprint of other powers in the Bay of Bengal and Indo-Pacific region.

General Dwivedi and Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo placed special emphasis on future-oriented initiatives, including scaling up technical consultations, investigating new opportunities in defence technology transfer, and formalizing annual frameworks for coordinated patrols along sensitive border areas. Both parties recognized the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms — such as regular Army-to-Army Staff talks and working groups — to sustain momentum and adapt to emerging challenges.

This meeting followed the India-Myanmar Army-to-Army Staff talks held just days earlier, on September 9, 2025, in New Delhi, where the Myanmar delegation led by Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo outlined proposals for enhanced interoperability, improved tactical coordination, and deeper defence cooperation across domains including logistics, medical support, and joint disaster response.

The talks culminated in mutual pledges to continue fostering a robust defence partnership, advancing the broader India-Myanmar strategic relationship with the objective of supporting regional security and development.

Additionally, General Dwivedi’s ongoing engagement with Ambassador Abhay Thakur, India’s envoy to Myanmar, as recently as August 22, 2025, further reinforces India’s multifaceted diplomatic and security outreach — integrating military, political, and technical channels to ensure a holistic approach to bilateral cooperation. These sustained interactions underpin India’s vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous regional order, with Myanmar as a critical partner in navigating complex border, maritime, and security issues.

The September 10 meeting between General Dwivedi and Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo represents a significant step forward in solidifying the India-Myanmar defence relationship, setting the stage for continued engagement and joint initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability in the region.

Based On ANI Report