In a significant stride towards bolstering maritime cooperation between India and Australia, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, engaged in discussions with Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy, during his official visit to New Delhi on April 3, 2024.
The discussions primarily revolved around avenues to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation, emphasizing increased operational engagements, training exchanges, and information sharing between the two navies.
As part of his visit, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond paid respects at the National War Memorial, laying a ceremonial wreath earlier in the day. He was warmly welcomed with the customary Guard of Honour presented by the Indian Navy at the South Block, New Delhi.
During his stay from April 2 to April 6, Vice Admiral Hammond is also slated to meet with the Chief of Defense, Chief of the Air Staff, and Defense Secretary in New Delhi.
Further reinforcing the ties, Vice Admiral Hammond is scheduled to visit the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command in Kochi and Western Naval Command in Mumbai. There, he will engage with the respective Commanders-in-Chiefs, visit INS Vikrant, Druv Simulator, ND(Mbi), and M/s MDL.
India and Australia share a common perspective on various contemporary maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Both nations have been collaborating closely in bilateral and multilateral forums such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), and QUAD.
The visit of the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy comes following the successful participation of the Royal Australian Ship HMNAS Warramunga during MILAN 24 and other recent maritime exercises. This visit further solidifies the robust and enduring bilateral relations between the two navies, marking yet another milestone in their cooperative endeavors.