India and South Africa have held their first Army-to-Army Staff Talks in New Delhi, opening a new channel for deeper military cooperation between the two countries. The talks focused on expanding training exchanges and building joint capacity to strengthen bilateral defence ties.

The maiden India-South Africa Army-to-Army Staff Talks were held in New Delhi from September 16 to 18, 2026. The Indian Army said the two sides discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation through wider training exchanges and joint capacity-building initiatives. The engagement marked an important step in strengthening military-to-military relations between the two countries.

As part of the visit, the South African delegation inspected the Indian Army’s artificial intelligence infusion projects. The delegation also visited the 505 Army Base Workshop. The visits allowed the delegation to observe India’s technological modernisation efforts and indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.

The Army-level engagement came soon after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed international issues of shared interest.

The meeting also covered progress across several areas of the India-South Africa partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs said, “They affirmed that the close and longstanding relations between India and South Africa are rooted in shared historical struggles, strong cultural affinities, robust economic ties, and deep people-to-people connections.”

Prime Minister Modi also stressed the need for closer coordination between the two countries on development and global issues. He said India and South Africa would work together to support development across the African continent, advance the priorities of the Global South and promote a more balanced international order.

Sharing details of his meeting with Ramaphosa on social media, PM Modi posted on X, “Delighted to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Delhi. We reviewed the full breadth of the India-South Africa Strategic Partnership, including the India-SACU trade agreement. Mining and critical minerals. Infrastructure. Food security. DPI and emerging technologies. Skilling. Our partnership is rooted in history and firmly focused on the future. We will work closely for Africa's progress, the priorities of the Global South and a more balanced global order.”

The first Army-to-Army Staff Talks add a military dimension to the broader strategic partnership between India and South Africa. The focus on training, capacity building, artificial intelligence and indigenous defence manufacturing also highlights the areas being explored for closer cooperation between the two armed forces.