Bilateral talks with defence leadership to focus on strengthening maritime cooperation

New Delhi, September 8 (HS): Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan will undertake his first overseas visit after assuming office on September 9, travelling to Australia and New Zealand. The visit is aimed at further strengthening India’s cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. During the tour, he will hold bilateral discussions with the senior leadership of both countries and meet defence officials.

The Naval Chief’s visit to Australia will further consolidate the growing momentum in India-Australia relations following the third India-Australia Annual Summit held in July and the second India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in June. The two countries have continued to deepen cooperation in defence and security, including maritime security and regional cooperation. During his visit, Admiral Swaminathan will hold bilateral discussions with senior leadership of the Royal Australian Navy.

His meetings with senior Australian officials will provide an opportunity to review naval cooperation and explore ways to strengthen operational engagement, interoperability, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan will also visit key operational and training establishments in Australia. The engagements will include discussions on maritime capabilities, emerging technologies and professional military education, reflecting the expanding scope of cooperation between the two navies.

The Naval Chief’s visit to New Zealand comes amid renewed momentum in India-New Zealand relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July. During that visit, India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation across several areas, including defence and maritime security. In New Zealand, the Naval Chief will hold discussions with the country’s senior leadership. The engagements will focus on further strengthening operational interactions, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Naval Chief will also visit key operational and training establishments and interact with personnel of the Royal New Zealand Navy as well as officers undergoing professional military education. The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of the recently concluded maritime cooperation arrangement, which provides a broad framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand.

The visit underscores India’s growing defence and maritime engagement with Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Indian Navy’s commitment to further strengthening maritime cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. The enhanced engagement is expected to contribute to peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar