India and Algeria held their inaugural Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday (May 5, 2026), marking a significant step forward in bilateral defence ties.

According to Ministry of Defence, the discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as training, joint military exercises, medical collaboration, and defence industry engagement.

During the meeting, both sides signed the Rules of Procedure to oversee the implementation of India-Algeria defence cooperation. The framework will guide future Joint Commission engagements and streamline collaboration mechanisms between the two countries.

The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and Algeria’s Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces, Major General Kaid Nour Eddine. The Indian delegation included representatives from the three Services (the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force), the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters, the Department of Defence Production, DRDO, the Armed Forces Medical Services, and the Ministry of External Affairs.

MoU momentum

India-Algeria defence relations have gained momentum since the signing of a Defence Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2024, with increased high-level engagements on both sides. The current visit by Major General Kaid Nour Eddine is being seen as a pivotal step in strengthening strategic cooperation.

Ahead of the meeting, the Algerian delegation paid tribute to India’s fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The delegation is also scheduled to interact with Indian defence industry stakeholders during the visit.