What's behind the growing India-Algeria defence ties?

In a significant move underscoring New Delhi’s growing strategic outreach in Africa, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi embarked on a four-day visit to Algeria on Sunday —his first overseas trip since the successful conclusion of Operation Sindoor.

The visit signals a deepening of defence and security ties between the two countries, coming nearly 10 months after India and Algeria signed a landmark defence cooperation agreement.

General Dwivedi is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with Algeria’s top military leadership, including General Said Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, and Lieutenant General Mostefa Smaali, Commander of the Algerian Land Forces.

This outreach is part of India’s broader strategy to expand its defence footprint in Africa amid China’s increasing presence on the continent. At the same time, Algeria — historically aligned with Russia for military support — is now actively seeking to diversify its defence partnerships.

The agreement with India follows a similar deal with the United States, marking a notable shift away from decades of exclusive reliance on Russian defence supplies.

“The visit aims to reinforce defence and security engagement between India and Algeria, with a focus on bolstering army-to-army cooperation, sharing perspectives on regional and global security challenges, and exploring avenues for defence industrial collaboration,” The Hindustan Times quoted the Army as saying in a statement.

General Dwivedi’s visit will also include stops at major Algerian military institutions such as the School of Command and Major Staff and the Cherchell Military Academy.

It follows sustained engagement between the two countries, including a defence seminar in Algiers from July 30 to August 1, where Indian defence firms showcased their capabilities.

Last year, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan visited Algeria to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of its War of Independence. President Droupadi Murmu had also visited the north African country in October-November last year.

India-Algeria ties

India and Algeria established friendly ties after Algeria’s independence in 1962, but relations  cooled in recent years as even the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune did not count on India to back Algeria’s bid to join BRICS —  before he was let down by those he described as “trusted partners,” namely Russia and China, reported The Arab Weekly.

In recent years, Algeria has significantly increased defence spending to modernise its military. Its recent defence agreements with India and the United States reflect a clear shift: the military leadership is seeking to diversify partnerships and reduce its longstanding dependence on Russia.

This pivot comes amid Russia’s diminished capacity to fulfill arms contracts due to the Ukraine war and growing concerns over the quality of its military equipment, added the report.

Analysts view Algeria’s growing defence ties with India as mutually strategic.

For Algeria, it’s a move to access advanced technologies, such as drones and precision weapons, while avoiding over-reliance on Moscow. For India, it’s a gateway to deepen strategic presence in North Africa and the Sahel, a region of increasing geopolitical importance.

Algeria’s shift is also driven by its experience with Russia’s exclusive defence role, the fallout of the Ukraine conflict, and unease over Moscow’s involvement in the Sahel.

As a result, Algiers is now pursuing broader, diversified defence cooperation with global players like India and the US.

With inputs from agencies