India and Myanmar reviewed their defence cooperation at the third India-Myanmar Defence Cooperation Meeting in Guwahati on October 7, discussing training, capacity building and measures to strengthen mutual security.
The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Myanmar’s Chief of Armed Forces Training, Lieutenant General Pyae Sone Linn. Both sides assessed progress on initiatives agreed during their previous meeting in Yangon in 2025 and considered additional areas for collaboration.
The discussions focused on expanding military training and institutional capacity building. Officials also exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral defence ties, with security cooperation remaining a central part of the agenda.
Holding the meeting in Guwahati for the first time brought the dialogue to India’s northeastern region, which shares a long border with Myanmar. Security developments across the frontier have implications for both countries, making coordination between their defence establishments important.
The Myanmar delegation also acknowledged India’s humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. India provided emergency relief through Operation Brahma, launched to deliver assistance and support recovery efforts after the disaster.
The meeting followed a series of defence engagements between the two neighbours. In May 2026, India’s Chief of Naval Staff visited Myanmar for discussions on maritime cooperation, training exchanges and capacity building. Those engagements included meetings with senior Myanmar military and naval officials.
The latest talks reviewed existing commitments while identifying potential areas for further cooperation. Both sides emphasised training and capacity building as practical avenues for strengthening their defence relationship and addressing shared security concerns.
