The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi:
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday virtually addressed the 3rd Land Forces Summit hosted by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF), underscoring India’s commitment to strengthening land power cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The summit brought together Chiefs of Armies and senior military leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and the United States, serving as a key multilateral forum for defence dialogue and collaboration.
During his address, General Dwivedi proposed the ‘IKIGAI’ Framework as a comprehensive roadmap to enhance Indo-Pacific land forces cooperation. The framework emphasises a shared and structured approach to deepening multilateral military collaboration across the region.
The IKIGAI Framework comprises several key elements: Interoperability and Information Sharing, focusing on seamless coordination and intelligence exchange; Knowledge and Professional Military Education, aimed at building common understanding and leadership capabilities; International Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief; Generative Technological Partnerships; Assurance for Security Partnerships; and Integrated Logistics and Sustainment.
The Army Chief also highlighted three core pillars essential for effective cooperation—Shared Diagnosis, Shared Principles and Shared Actions. He stressed that the IKIGAI Framework reflects a common purpose among Indo-Pacific nations to harness collective land power in support of regional peace, stability and prosperity.
The Land Forces Summit is a significant multilateral platform designed to strengthen Army-to-Army defence cooperation through senior leadership engagement and a structured Land Forces Dialogue, fostering deeper understanding and collaboration among participating nations.
According to the Government of Japan, the term ‘ikigai’ refers to a passion or purpose that brings value and joy to life. It is a broad concept encompassing people, activities, work and pursuits that provide meaning and fulfilment—an idea that General Dwivedi linked to shared regional goals in defence and security cooperation.
