India, US Navies Explore Ways To Expand Cooperation Amid Navy Chief Hari Kumar's Visit

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar meets with counterparts from other nations, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on the sidelines of the 25th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) at the Newport, in the United States. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Indian Navy Chief, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, attended the 25th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) in the United States, according to the Defence Ministry on Sunday. The CNS spoke extensively at the conference about the challenges of Human Resource Management, specifically recruitment and retention of trained personnel, and India's initiatives to address these through the "Agnipath" scheme, empowering women, and transforming the Indian Navy into a gender-neutral force.

According to the ministry, the ISS is conducted by the US Navy at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and gives the chance to interact with the FFCs towards the common aim of improving Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation. 

According to the statement, the Chief of Naval Staff's visit to the United States provides a major opportunity for apex level navy to navy interactions for furthering bilateral cooperation as well as engaging with varied partners around the Indo-Pacific.

Admiral Hari Kumar also met with counterparts from the United States, Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the ISS, according to a Defence Ministry official. 

The broad interactions during the tour demonstrate the Indian Navy's commitment to achieving the goal of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and an international rules-based order, according to the official.

During the Indian Navy chief's visit, substantial discussions were made about expanding IN-USN operational involvement at bilateral and multilateral exercises like Malabar, RIMPAC, Sea Dragon, and Tiger Triumph. The two fleets also exchange subject matter experts on a regular basis to institutionalise interoperability in a variety of disciplines, according to a ministry official.

The United States classified India as a "Major Defence Partner" in June 2016, clearing the path for the exchange of crucial military equipment and technology, PTI reported.

The two nations have also signed important defence and security treaties in recent years, notably the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, which allows their forces to utilise each other's facilities for supply maintenance and replenishment.

In 2018, the two sides also inked COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement), which permits for military interoperability and the export of high-end equipment from the US to India.