The Indian Army is set to host a major gathering of top military leaders from United Nations Troop Contributing Countries from October 14 to 16 in New Delhi. The event will bring together senior defence officials from 32 countries that play a vital role in global UN peacekeeping operations.

India has been one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions across the world. Over the past 75 years, the country has sent more than 2.9 lakh soldiers to over 50 missions in various conflict zones.

The three-day meeting will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Ahead of the conclave, Lacroix said the event “provides a vital space for UN police and troop contributing countries to exchange lessons, strengthen cooperation, and deepen collaboration, all in the pursuit of peace.” He added, “Peacekeeping is one of the most powerful tools that the international community can yield to prevent, mitigate, and end conflict.”

Who will attend

Among the 32 military leaders expected, 15 will be Chiefs of their respective forces and 17 will be vice chiefs or other senior officials.
Countries represented at the level of Chiefs include Bhutan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, and Vietnam.

Senior military representatives from Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Italy, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Australia, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Thailand, and Madagascar will also take part.

The conclave will feature several sessions where delegates will discuss peacekeeping strategies and share experiences from the ground. Alongside the discussions, a defence technology exhibition will also be held to highlight India’s progress in defence manufacturing.

The gathering is expected to strengthen global cooperation in peacekeeping and reflect India’s long-standing commitment to maintaining international peace and security.