To enhance India and US maritime cooperation, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar engaged in discussions on defense collaborations and cooperative maritime security with US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Lisa Franchetti and US Navy Vice Admiral Charles V Cooper II.

Admiral R Hari Kumar embarked on a visit to the United States spanning from September 19 to 23, where his agenda included participation in the 25th International Seapower Symposium (ISS).

This symposium is organized by the US Navy and takes place at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Its primary objective is to facilitate interactions with friendly foreign nations, all with the common goal of strengthening maritime collaboration within the Indo-Pacific region.

Taking to their social media ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, Indian Navy stated, “Adm R Hari Kumar #CNS, during the 25th ISS met Adm Lisa Franchetti, Ag CNO, @USNavy & VAdm Charles B Cooper, Commander NAVCENT, @US5thFleet. Discussions on enhanced defence engagements & collaborative #maritimesecurity, & shared commitment to Free, Open & Inclusive #IndoPacific.”

Previously, the statement attributed to Admiral R Hari Kumar by the US Navy read as follows, “I firmly believe that despite all technological advancements, our men and women have been – and will remain – our greatest asset in the foreseeable future.”

On the sidelines of the ISS, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) engaged in one-on-one meetings with counterparts from several nations. These countries encompassed the USA, Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UK. These bilateral discussions facilitated meaningful interactions between leaders from various countries during the symposium.

The wide-ranging interactions on this visit showcase the Indian Navy's commitment to achieving the vision of an Indo-Pacific that is open, inclusive, and adheres to international rules and regulations.

During the visit, extensive discussions centered around the exploration of increased operational cooperation between the Indian Navy (IN) and the United States Navy (USN) at both bilateral and multilateral exercises. These exercises include well-known ones such as Malabar, RIMPAC, Sea Dragon, and Tiger Triumph.

Furthermore, a regular exchange of subject matter experts takes place between the two navies, with the primary goal of standardizing interoperability in various domains.

Admiral Kumar's visit to the United States held immense significance as it provided a valuable opportunity for high-level naval engagement. The focus was on strengthening bilateral collaboration and fostering interactions with a diverse array of partners across the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative aimed to deepen cooperation, ultimately contributing to the pursuit of common objectives and reinforcing shared interests.

Image source: ANI