Navy chief to visit Australia, New Zealand to deepen Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation
New Delhi, Sep 8. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan will undertake an official visit to Australia and New Zealand from September 9, with the aim of strengthening India’s bilateral naval and maritime security cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).
The visit to Australia comes against the backdrop of growing momentum in bilateral defence ties, following the third India-Australia Annual Summit in July and the second India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in June. The two countries have been steadily expanding cooperation in defence and security, with maritime security and regional stability emerging as important areas of engagement.
During his visit, Admiral Swaminathan will hold discussions with senior leadership of the RAN and engage with Australia’s senior defence officials. The talks are expected to review ongoing naval cooperation and explore ways to enhance operational interaction, interoperability, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies.
The Navy chief will also visit key Australian operational and training establishments and interact with RAN personnel. Discussions are expected to cover maritime capabilities, emerging technologies and professional military education, reflecting the widening scope of India-Australia naval cooperation.
The second leg of the visit to New Zealand assumes significance amid a renewed expansion of bilateral ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country in July. During the visit, India and New Zealand elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in several areas, including defence and maritime security.
In New Zealand, Admiral Swaminathan will meet senior leadership of the RNZN and hold discussions with the country’s senior defence officials. The engagements will focus on enhancing operational cooperation, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the Indian and New Zealand navies.
The CNS is also scheduled to visit key operational and training establishments and interact with RNZN personnel and officers undergoing professional military education.
The visit comes shortly after the conclusion of the Maritime Cooperation Arrangement between India and New Zealand, which provides a broader framework for practical cooperation in the maritime domain.
The Indian Navy’s engagement with Australia and New Zealand reflects India’s expanding maritime partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, where greater interoperability, information sharing and coordinated capacity-building are increasingly important to regional security.
The Ministry of Defence said the visit underscores India’s commitment to sustained and practical maritime engagement with the two countries and is aimed at further strengthening naval cooperation in support of peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
