Sri Vijaya Puram, July 27: India and Cote d’Ivoire on Monday reviewed existing defence cooperation and explored new avenues to strengthen military ties, with a particular focus on enhancing the operational capabilities of the Ivory Coast Air Force. The discussions, held in New Delhi, reflected the two countries’ continued efforts to deepen defence engagement as part of their broader bilateral relationship.
The talks took place during a meeting between Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Chief of Air Staff of the Cote d’Ivoire Air Force, Major General Koffi N’Guessan Alfred. According to the Ministry of Defence, both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and exchanged views on potential areas for future collaboration aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Ivory Coast Air Force.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said the meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Cote d’Ivoire to further deepen bilateral defence ties. The discussions centred on both existing cooperation and prospective initiatives that could expand military collaboration between the two countries.
Earlier in the day, Major General Koffi N’Guessan Alfred visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where he paid homage to Indian armed forces personnel who laid down their lives in service of the nation. He also signed the visitors’ book, describing it as a privilege to honour the sacrifices made by India’s soldiers.
In his message, the Ivorian Air Force chief said it was a “great honour” to pay tribute to the brave men and women of India’s Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. On behalf of the Ivorian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Cote d’Ivoire, he conveyed “deepest respect and solidarity”.
He further expressed hope that the National War Memorial would continue to preserve the memory of those who served while strengthening the friendship between the Indian Air Force and the Ivorian Air Force. He also offered enduring gratitude and salute to all personnel who served and lost their lives.
The defence engagement follows recent discussions on expanding cooperation in another strategic sector. On July 10, Additional Secretary (Central and West Africa) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sevala Naik Mude, met Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, on the sidelines of the Consultative Group meetings on Cote d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan 2026–2030 in Abidjan.
According to the Embassy of India in Cote d’Ivoire, the meeting focused on India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including UPI and Aadhaar, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation through the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The embassy said the Ivorian minister appreciated India’s digital transformation and expressed interest in learning from its digital ecosystem while exploring ways to adapt similar digital solutions in Cote d’Ivoire.
