Indian Navy's Admiral Kumar Boosts Bilateral Cooperation During U.S. Visit: Focus on Maritime Security, Gender Equality, and Operational Engagements

During Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar's recent visit to the United States, discussions centered around expanding bilateral maritime security cooperation in line with the growing India-U.S. strategic partnership. The Chief of Naval Staff attended the 25th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) held at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. The visit provided an important opportunity for high-level engagements between navies, deepening cooperation, and engaging with partners across the Indo-Pacific.

Admiral Kumar had bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries, including the U.S., Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the U.K. These extensive engagements reflect the Indian Navy's commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. One of the key topics discussed during the visit was the challenges of human resource management, particularly recruitment and retention of trained personnel. Admiral Kumar highlighted India's initiatives, such as the Agnipath scheme, which aims to empower women and transform the Indian Navy into a gender-neutral force.

Efforts were also made to explore greater operational engagements between the Indian and U.S. navies through bilateral and multilateral exercises. These exercises include Malabar, Sea Dragon, RIMPAC, and Tiger Triumph. RIMPAC, in particular, is regarded as one of the largest international maritime warfare exercises and is hosted by the U.S. Navy's Indo-Pacific Command. The visit further solidified the Indo-U.S. defense ties, which have been steadily strengthening in recent years. In 2016, the U.S. designated India as a "Major Defense Partner," facilitating the sharing of critical military equipment and technology.

Both countries have signed significant defense and security agreements, such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, allowing the use of each other's bases for repair and replenishment purposes. In 2018, they also signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), promoting interoperability between the two militaries and enabling the sale of advanced technology from the U.S. to India. Overall, Admiral Kumar's visit to the U.S. and his participation in the International Seapower Symposium underscored the commitment of the Indian Navy to strengthen bilateral cooperation and contribute to a rules-based Indo-Pacific region.