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India continues to maintain long-standing defence attaché or military adviser positions in major countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and France.
India Expands Defence Attaché Network With Focus on Africa, Europe and Indo-Pacific. | Image: File
India is expanding its network of defence attachés and military advisers as part of a wider effort to strengthen strategic partnerships, deepen military diplomacy and promote defence exports across key regions.
Reports say that New Delhi has posted 15-16 new defence attachés from the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force to several countries after restructuring deployments at larger missions in Russia, the United Kingdom and France.
These include Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Djibouti, Tanzania, Poland, Armenia and the Philippines. Government sources said some officers have already joined their assignments.
Apart from these countries, India also has military advisers or defence-related postings in countries such as Seychelles, Bhutan and Tajikistan. Reports suggest India maintains similar arrangements in several other countries, including Mauritius, Oman and the Maldives.
Defence network spans dozens of countries
India already maintains a large overseas defence network through resident defence attachés and concurrent accreditation.
According to a 2018 government note, India had resident defence attachés in 44 countries, with accreditation covering a total of 95 countries.
This means resident officers are posted in selected countries while also representing India in several neighbouring nations through concurrent accreditation.
Government sources said the latest expansion focuses particularly on Africa, along with selected countries in Europe and Asia.
“In the next phase, 10 entirely new defence wings will be created in different countries, with a particular focus on nations to which arms can be exported,” a 2024 TOI report said.
Africa emerges as key focus
Africa has become a major priority in India’s military outreach at a time when China has significantly expanded its strategic presence across the continent.
New defense attachés are being posted to Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Djibouti and Tanzania.
India has already been conducting military exercises, training programmes and defence exchanges with several African countries. It is also seeking to export indigenous defence platforms, including the Tejas light combat aircraft, Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air defence missile systems.
India had also played a key role in securing permanent membership for the 55-nation African Union in the G20 during its presidency of the grouping.
Djibouti is considered strategically important because of its location on the Horn of Africa. China established its first overseas military base there in August 2017 and has since expanded its logistical presence from Africa’s eastern coast towards the Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean Region.
Focus on Europe and Indo-Pacific
The latest expansion also includes Armenia, Poland and the Philippines.
Government sources said a defence attaché is being posted to Armenia for the first time. The country has emerged as an important destination for Indian defence exports, with agreements covering Pinaka rocket systems, Akash missiles, ammunition and other equipment, including supplies made during its conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
India has also been strengthening military ties with ASEAN countries in response to China’s growing presence in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea.
In January 2022, India signed a USD 375 million agreement with the Philippines to supply three anti-ship coastal batteries of the BrahMos missile system. New Delhi hopes this first export order for BrahMos will lead to similar agreements with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam.
India is also trying to export the Tejas fighter aircraft to countries such as the Philippines, Nigeria, Argentina and Egypt. However, its bid to supply the aircraft to Malaysia was unsuccessful after the Royal Malaysian Air Force selected South Korea’s KAI FA-50 fighter.
Long-established presence
Alongside the newly announced postings, India continues to maintain long-standing defence attaché or military adviser positions in major countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and France.
A 2013 report had stated that only the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia then had Indian defence attachés representing all three services – the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The latest expansion reflects New Delhi’s continued efforts to broaden its global military engagement while supporting strategic partnerships and defence cooperation across multiple regions.
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