Chief of South African Army Lt Gen Mbatha called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari while in New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 24: Chief of the South African Army Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at Air headquarters on Tuesday (Aug 23) and discussed bilateral issues and defence cooperation between the two countries. Earlier today (Aug 23), Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha visited the National War Memorial and paid his respects to the fallen soldiers by laying a wreath.

 

 

 

 

"Lt Gen Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, Chief of South African Army called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, #CAS at Air HQ today. Issues of bilateral interest and defence cooperation were discussed during the meeting," Indian Air Force tweeted yesterday (Aug 23). The South African Army Chief accompanied by his wife along with a two-member delegation is on a four-day visit to India seeking to further strengthen military ties between both countries.

 

 

 

 

 

Both countries share a great relationship and their historical bonds can be traced back to the time when Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagraha movement in South Africa over a century ago. Both countries established the India-South Africa Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers in 1994 to identify areas of mutually beneficial cooperation. On Aug 3, India and South Africa held the third round of the 11th Round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi where both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.

 

"The 11th Session of India-South Africa Foreign Office Consultations was held on Aug 3 2022 in New Delhi. The Consultations were co-chaired by Puneet R. Kundal, JS (East and Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs and Ntombizodwa Msutukazi Lallie, Acting Deputy Director-General Asia and the Middle East, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Republic of South Africa," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.