Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has embarked on a four-day visit to Tanzania, focusing on building a stronger military partnership between India and Tanzania. The visit aims to consolidate bilateral defence engagements and close defence ties between the two countries. Gen Pande is scheduled to meet with top civil and military brass of Tanzania, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Defence Minister Stergomena Lawrence Tax. The visit will celebrate existing collaborations and contribute to a stronger future partnership. Gen Pande will also engage in wide-ranging talks with Tanzania’s Chief of Defence Force General Jacob John Mkunda. Interaction with the Commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, General Saidi Hamisi Saidi, is also scheduled. In addition to visiting the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam, Gen Pande will explore the historical city of Zanzibar and Arusha. During the visit, he will address the National Defence College and interact with Major General Wilbert Augustine Ibuge, the Commandant, and the faculty of the institution. Notably, Gen Pande’s visit coincides with the second India-Tanzania mini DEF-EXPO, showcasing the growing prowess of India’s indigenous defence industry. The bilateral defence relationship between India and Tanzania has been robust, thriving, and fortified by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation in October 2003. This cooperation was further affirmed during the India-Tanzania Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania, in June this year.