1. India commemorates Vijay Diwas

On 16 December, India commemorates Vijay Diwas, marking the decisive victory in the 1971 War. The surrender of Pakistan’s Eastern Command stands as a testament to the courage, coordination, and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces, leading to the liberation of Bangladesh.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh paid homage and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on the occasion, honouring the supreme sacrifice of the nation’s brave soldiers. On Vijay Diwas, the nation bows in pride and gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces, whose flawless jointmanship and decisive victory embody India’s enduring valour, resolve, and spirit.

2. UAE Presidential Guard Commander meets Indian Army Chief

Major General Ali Saif Humaid Alkaabi, Commander of the Presidential Guard of the United Arab Emirates, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, on December 15 in New Delhi, according to a post on X by the Indian Army.

The two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, deepening military-to-military engagement, and reinforcing their shared commitment to regional stability and global peace.

Major General Alkaabi also held high-level discussions with senior Indian military leaders, during which he was briefed on Operation Sindoor and India’s security perspective in the region.

3. Joint Secy (IC) Amitabh Prasad meets UAE Asst Under Secretary of Defence Affairs

 
Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Shri Amitabh Prasad met Assistant Under Secretary of Defence Affairs, UAE Ministry of Defence, Mr Ali Al Ahmed, on December 15 on the sidelines of the 16th India–UAE Joint Commission Meeting.

According to a post on X by the Ministry of Defence, the discussions focused on further deepening and expanding bilateral defence cooperation.

4. DCNS meets Maldives Chief of Defence Force

Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, called on Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Forces, during his maiden visit to Malé.

Discussions focused on addressing maritime security challenges, enhancing training engagements, and cooperation against drug trafficking. The visit reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s commitment to regional partners. Progress on ongoing projects and avenues to enhance maritime information sharing between the two navies were also discussed.

5. Germany orders 20 additional H145M helicopters

Germany has decided to exercise the option for 20 additional H145M light combat helicopters, the Leichter Kampfhubschrauber (LKH), under a contract signed in December 2023, taking the total order to 82 helicopters.

The H145M is the military variant of the light twin-engine H145 helicopter. The global H145 family has accumulated over eight million flight hours and is operated by armed forces and law enforcement agencies worldwide for demanding missions. The Bundeswehr already operates the H145 for special forces operations and search and rescue roles.

Chakra Desk

Chakra News is a specialised digital media platform committed to in-depth coverage of India’s defence, national security, geopolitics, and critical technologies.