In a sign of expanding focus on military diplomacy, India is set to send defence attachés (DA) to a number of its missions in Africa for the first time.
The readjustment in the post of DA in multiple regions is part of India’s evolving requirements that stretch from defence production and cooperation to dealing with crisis situations that hinge on urgent mobilisation.
A defence attaché is a member of the military serving in an overseas embassy, representing their country's defence abroad.
It is the defence attaché's job to protect, develop and promote the defence interests of their county in the nation they are assigned, as well as in bilateral military and defence relations.
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, DAs are considered as members of the diplomatic staff enjoying full immunity.